Donald Trump may be known for his McDonald’s obsession, but during a recent trip to South Texas for SpaceX’s Starship launch, the president-elect added a Texas favorite to his fast-food repertoire: Whataburger.
The Brownsville Police Department shared a Facebook post showing Whataburger bags being loaded onto Trump’s private jet, marking a rare departure from his well-documented loyalty to McDonald’s.
Trump’s go-to McDonald’s order—two Big Macs, two Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, and a chocolate shake—is practically legendary.
This isn’t Trump’s first encounter with Whataburger, though. According to Chron, in 2017, while surveying Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, Trump’s motorcade stopped at a Whataburger on South Padre Island Drive. According to the Dallas Morning News, then-First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence ordered fries for the press, but Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence’s orders remained a mystery.
Despite Whataburger’s growing popularity beyond Texas, it hasn’t replaced Trump’s fondness for McDonald’s. According to The Washington Post, Trump’s campaign accounted for $31,000 of the $35,900 federal candidates spent at McDonald’s in 2023.
Whataburger’s fan base continues to grow, however, with new locations outside Texas meeting high demand. Earlier this year, USA Today ranked the Double Meat Whataburger as one of the nation’s best fast-food burgers.
