Donald Trump’s 5 Most Favorite Fast Foods

1. McDonald’s : Trump's most mythic meal choice is, of course, McDonald's, the golden-arched king of American fast food. He's famously partial to the Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish, and Quarter Pounder with Cheese—the staples of the McDonald's menu. On the campaign trail way back in 2016, Trump once let slip that he liked McDonald's not just because it tasted good, but due to the consistency and cleanliness. In his own words, he likes to know "what he's going to get"—a reflection of his affection for consistency and predictability. Trump's typical McDonald's order, according to a book by his former aides, might consist of two Big Macs, two Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, and a chocolate milkshake. That's a meal for more than one, but it is also a display of force, a declaration of excess and inclination. The idea of a billionaire having a longing for fast food can be a contradiction, but for Trump, it's something to boast about. He does what most political elites fail to do—remind his base that he's "one of them."

2. Steak (Well Done, with Ketchup) :Trump's love of steak is no secret, yet it's the way he eats it that has spurred endless foodie outrage. Most steak lovers take their meat medium rare or medium, letting the juices and flavor speak for themselves. Trump, however, prefers his steak well done—cooked all the way through, even sometimes charred. And to top it all off, he slathers it in a big dollop of ketchup. To most food professionals, this combination is kitchen blasphemy. Foodies have mocked the habit, claiming that it masks the taste and quality of the meat. But Trump will have none of it. His steak manners have become a metaphor for his broader worldview: he knows what he likes, and he does not care what the critics think. He even orders his steaks this way at upscale restaurants and formal dinners at Mar-a-Lago.

3. KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Trump's second fast food weakness is KFC. The image of him inhaling a bucket of fried chicken with a knife and fork on his private plane during his 2016 campaign went viral. While it was mocked and meme-ified, the image also said a lot—Trump enjoys branding, convenience, and comfort food. KFC's finger-lickin' good fried chicken, especially the original recipe with 11 herbs and spices, is a nostalgic spin on traditional American fast food culture. To Trump, Colonel Sanders is more than a mascot but a symbol of business achievement, Southern culture, and Americana. That is probably also why Trump praised Sanders in campaign speeches and at one point even called him "a great American icon." Eating KFC with a silver fork might be ironic, but it is also a picture of how Trump melds wealth with the working-class image that he attempts to project.

4. Meatloaf: Trump's love of meatloaf is also a testament to traditional, comfort food American cuisine. The retro classic—ground meat mixed with breadcrumbs and baked to perfection is a nostalgic staple in many homes. Trump has publicly commented on the excellence of Trump Tower Grill's meatloaf, calling it one of his favorite meals.

He even appeared on television with Martha Stewart to prepare meatloaf sandwiches, displaying a surprising willingness to cede the kitchen spotlight. For Trump, meatloaf is more than food—it's a connection to traditional, home-style cooking. It's a component of his narrative of embracing simpler pleasures and honoring time-tested traditions.

5. Cherry Vanilla Diet Coke: While technically a beverage, Diet Coke—and specifically the Cherry Vanilla flavor—deserves a place on this list. Trump is well-documented to be a Diet Coke fan. Reports during his time in the White House have him drinking up to 12 cans a day. He even had a red button placed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office that, when pressed, would have an aide bring him a fresh Diet Coke.

His go-to is the Cherry Vanilla, which pairs the cherry sugar with the old-world whiff of vanilla and the calorie-free promise of Diet Coke. It's an extremely specific flavor, and in typical Trump fashion, it's consumed frequently and unabashedly.

Final Bite :Donald Trump's food tastes may win eye-rolls from foodies, but they're irredeemably a part of his public persona. They're less tastes than they are brandings, an image, and an identity. It's a Big Mac, ketchup-dappled well-done steak, or bucket of KFC, or whatever, they convey something other than what they say. They convey familiarity, continuity, and identification with being in touch with the common American man. In a political world where politicians will do anything in their power to seem refined or elitist, Trump takes on the everyman's plate—spontaneous, boisterous, and full of flavor. Though his eating style is not gourmet-approved, it is uniquely Trump: candid, hedonistic, and unreplaceable.