Trump serves Big Macs at White House reception
President says government shutdown left him with choice between fast food and Melania’s ‘salads’
US President Donald Trump presented White House invitees with a buffet of takeaway food from McDonald’s and Burger King, after the government shutdown left the executive mansion short on catering staff.
Clemson University’s American football team were presented with the unorthodox spread last night to mark their victory in the college national championships.
Players and coaches were invited to dine on stacks of burgers served on silver platters inside the candlelit dining room. “White House cups bearing the presidential seal held the fries,” adds ABC News, while dipping sauces were presented in gravy boats.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The president’s press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said that many non-essential White House staff had been sent home due to the government shutdown.
The 24-day budget standoff over Trump’s demands for border wall funding is now the longest on record, and has resulted in 800,000 government employees going without pay.
“Because the Democrats refuse to negotiate on border security, much of the residence staff at the White House is furloughed,” she said, adding that the president was “personally paying” for the fast food bonanza.
Nevertheless, “the substitution didn’t seem to bother Mr. Trump, and perhaps even delighted him”, says The New York Times - no surprise, given that the commander-in-chief “has long professed a love for fast food”.
Presiding over the smorgasbord last night, Trump praised the spread of items from McDonald’s, Burger King, Dominos and US fast food chain Wendy’s as “all of our favourite foods”.
“If it’s American, I like it. It’s all American stuff,” he said.
Trump also joked that he had elected to buy in the fast food rather “little quick salads that the First Lady will make”.
CNN commentator Joan Walsh described the comment as “incredibly sexist” and belittling of his wife, Melania. “We aren’t all here to make salads for men,” she added.
The New York Times says that official estimates indicate that “about one-third of American adults eat fast food on any given day”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine solutions - May 10, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 10, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 10, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 10, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
'Box Trump in for real if he pulls another stunt. Put him behind bars.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Box Trump in for real if he pulls another stunt. Put him behind bars.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Can we — the people who have bought so much already — really keep buying more?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Presidential debates are more performance art than actual ways to inform'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump, DeSantis meet for first time since primary
Speed Read The former president and the Florida governor have seemingly mended their rivalry
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Justices set to punt on Trump immunity case
Speed Read Conservative justices signaled support for Trump's protection from criminal charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona grand jury indicts 18 in Trump fake elector plot
Speed Read The state charged Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and other Trump allies in 2020 election interference case
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published