Overview
- President Donald Trump told McDonald’s franchise owners in Washington that “prices are coming down” and thanked the chain for reintroducing $5 and $8 Extra Value Meals.
- The White House highlighted an executive order signed Nov. 14 removing or exempting tariffs on more than 200 imported food items, including beef, coffee, bananas, oranges and tomatoes.
- Government data show consumer prices up about 3% year over year with ground beef roughly 13.5% higher, and McDonald’s Big Mac averaging $6.01 in July versus $5.69 a year earlier.
- McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski has warned inflation is proving “sticky,” as Trump continues to float tariff‑funded $2,000 rebates that would require congressional approval and proposes 50‑year mortgages.
- The bipartisan Impact Summit featured Democratic speakers such as Kathy Hochul, Wes Moore, Pete Aguilar and Rahm Emanuel, as the administration seeks to recalibrate its affordability message after recent voter concerns over costs.