Kathrine Frich
Saudi Arabia wheeled out a McDonald’s food truck during Donald Trump’s recent state visit.
Saudi Arabia wheeled out a McDonald’s food truck during Donald Trump’s recent state visit.
The red-and-yellow mobile unit, complete with Arabic writing, made an unexpected appearance near the Royal Court in Riyadh, seemingly tailored to the former president’s famously fast food-focused palate.
An Unusual Soft Power Play
The fast food setup wasn’t just for fun, it was symbolic.
Saudi officials appeared to be pulling out all the stops to impress Trump on his first official trip of his second term.
Amid a grand military procession and formal state dinner, the burger truck captured global attention, showing how cultural nods can sometimes speak louder than speeches.
X Reacts to Burgers in the Desert
The McDonald’s truck went viral almost instantly. Social media users from around the world expressed everything from amusement to disbelief.
“How’s this even real life?” one X user posted, echoing the surreal nature of seeing an American burger truck as a diplomatic gesture in the Gulf.
Trump’s McDonald’s Legacy
Trump’s affection for fast food is well-documented.
He’s famously ordered Big Macs and Filet-O-Fish even while ill with COVID-19. In 2019, he presented a McDonald’s buffet to the Clemson Tigers football team.
In 2024, he even worked a shift at a Pennsylvania branch during his campaign, manning fryers and handing out meals.
McPresident: Burgers, Fries and No Buns
Though Trump’s diet still leans heavily on fast food, he’s made a few adjustments. According to Fox News’ Sean Hannity, the president ditched burger buns to shed over two stone.
The change, while minor, is part of a broader effort to slim down without ditching his beloved meals entirely.
Diet Coke Button and All
Trump’s culinary preferences extend beyond burgers. His well-known love for Diet Coke, reportedly 12 cans a day, once earned him a dedicated red button on the Oval Office desk for instant cola delivery.
It’s no surprise that familiar comforts followed him all the way to Saudi Arabia.