President Donald Trump has called on Republicans to prioritise tackling rising living costs as American households increasingly feel the pinch from economic pressures. The president's renewed focus comes after significant electoral setbacks for his party.
Economic Pivot Following Election Defeats
Speaking at Monday's McDonald's Impact Summit in Washington D.C., Trump addressed franchise owners, suppliers and operators, emphasising how his administration is working to reduce expenses for ordinary citizens. This shift in messaging follows Republican losses in key races including the New York City mayor's contest and gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia.
The decisive victory of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City's mayoral race, which heavily centred on affordability issues, has prompted the White House to swiftly adopt similar liberal messaging tactics about economic concerns.
Trump's Affordability Agenda Takes Centre Stage
During his remarks at the Westin Hotel, Trump outlined his administration's transition from celebrating policy achievements to developing a new domestic plan focused specifically on reducing living expenses from food to energy prices.
"As president, I want you to know that I'm fighting every day to support businesses like yours and the citizens that we all serve," Trump told the gathering of McDonald's operators. He notably referenced the franchise's iconic branding while declaring, "This is also the golden age of America, because we are doing better than we've ever done as a country. Prices are coming down."
The president highlighted the significance of McDonald's historically affordable meals and how American consumers increasingly rely on the fast-food chain for value deals amidst escalating food prices.
Concrete Measures and Investigations
Trump detailed several administration initiatives aimed at relieving financial pressure, including his Big Beautiful Bill passed in July that reduced taxes on tips, overtime and social security. He has recently proposed $2,000 stimulus checks funded by tariff revenue for individuals earning under $100,000 annually, alongside plans to cut drug prices.
In a significant move addressing food inflation, the president announced he has asked the Department of Justice to investigate meat packing companies for alleged "illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation" driving beef costs to record highs.
This action comes as the US cattle supply hits its lowest point in 70 years while consumer demand for beef continues to surge. The administration has already taken steps to exempt beef, coffee and numerous other staples from tariffs, following similar removals for fruits, nuts and spices in August.
McDonald's has emerged as a willing partner in affordability efforts, with the franchise subsidising its Extra Value Meal to attract budget-conscious customers. An administration official confirmed to the Daily Mail that franchisees and the company are "co-investing to bring extra value and affordability to our customers."
The event also attracted prominent Democratic figures including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, indicating bipartisan concern about economic pressures facing American voters.
