The topic of inflation in America has been the center of political debate for the past several years. In this environment, President Donald Trump has once again made McDonald’s part of his argument.
Trump said at an event that the return of value meals is proof that things are still not as expensive in the country as they say. He thanked the owners and suppliers of McDonald’s, saying, “These are the foods that people love, and you guys are playing a big role in bringing down prices.”
Trump’s love of fast food is nothing new. He has always counted McDonald’s among his favorite places. But this time, he has presented it as a political argument. He says that if the average person can get a cheap meal, it is a sign that things are not as bad as his opponents say.
On the other hand, economists do not fully agree with this claim. According to them, McDonald’s has introduced these value meals to revive its declining customer traffic, and the company itself is also absorbing the burden of these low prices. The prices of beef, juice, and other goods continue to rise in the country, putting pressure on people’s daily purchases.
Trump became president with promises to reduce inflation, but the fact is that his trade policy has also increased prices in many places. Tariffs in many sectors have made imported goods more expensive, affecting the average consumer. Some American farmers have also been affected by these policies, especially soybean farmers who have suffered losses after China’s retaliatory sanctions.
Meanwhile, the government has recently removed tariffs on specific key imported goods, including coffee, spices, fruits, and meat. Government spokespeople say that this step has been taken to reduce the pressure on expensive groceries. However, critics argue that such exemptions are an acknowledgment that the tariffs have harmed ordinary people.
Trump has also stated that a plan to distribute the money from the tariffs to low-income families is under consideration; however, this would require congressional approval, which does not seem inevitable at this time.
Inflation, daily expenses, and wage gaps are currently the most debated issues in the United States. In such a situation, Trump’s use of cheap McDonald’s meals as an argument seems like an interesting and unconventional political strategy. But is this offer of a few dollars a complete solution to the people’s economic problems, or just a symbolic gesture? Opinion is still divided on this, and the debate is likely to continue for some time.
