Donald Trump's Go-To McDonald's Order Packs A High Caloric Punch Without Many Benefits

It seems like ages ago that President Donald Trump stopped by a suburban Philadelphia McDonald's to work the drive-thru and fry station during his campaign. McDonald's may seem like a surprising choice for someone dividing his time between a $200 million New York penthouse, a $1 billion Florida club, and more than a dozen golf properties around the world, but Trump has never been shy about his love of the Golden Arches.

"So I know this menu better than you do," Trump said while buying McDonald's meals for first responders in East Palestine, Ohio. "I probably know it better than anybody in here" (via YouTube). According to former 2016 campaign officials Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, his go-to order was two Big Macs, two Filet-O-Fish, and a chocolate shake (via Time). That comes to 2,440 calories, 39 grams of saturated fat, 285 milligrams of cholesterol, and 3,500 milligrams of sodium (and read what Trump eats in a day).

In his 2018 health exam, we learned his total cholesterol was 223, with an LDL cholesterol of 143 — both above the normal range despite taking Crestor to help lower it. He also weighed 239 pounds, giving him a BMI of 29.9. A BMI of 30 is considered obese. By 2020, Trump's go-to McDonald's order had shifted slightly, but not by much.

Trump scared the nation when he was rushed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with COVID-19 complications. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, later revealed in his 2022 memoir that he actually felt relieved when Trump ordered his revised McDonald's go-to: one Big Mac, a Filet-O-Fish, fries, and a vanilla (not chocolate) shake (per Time). Sure, that's two sandwiches short of his original order, but it still packs plenty of calories and fat.

The Dietary Guidelines recommend that older men get between 2,000 and 2,600 calories a day, depending on activity level. Trump's pared-down meal clocks in at 1,670 calories — about 72% of the daily recommendation if we peg his total at 2,300. Added sugars and saturated fat should each make up no more than 10% of daily calories, but this order comes close to blowing past both. The 24.5 grams of saturated fat alone bring him to 95% of his daily limit. The meal also has 1.5 grams of trans fat, which is the worst kind when it comes to cholesterol. And the vanilla milkshake makes up most of the 49 grams of added sugar, about 85% of his daily max.

Even though Trump's blood pressure has stayed under control without medication, the 2,040 milligrams of sodium in this meal isn't doing his arteries any favors. With his recent diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, all that sodium can add to swelling in his legs. The recommended sodium cap is 2,300 milligrams a day. On the plus side, the 1,580 milligrams of potassium in the meal may help balance some of that fluid retention, although he'd still need another 1,820 milligrams to meet the daily goal.

According to his 2025 health exam, Trump is down 15 pounds since 2018, and his total and LDL cholesterol are finally in the optimal range, thanks to two cholesterol medications. He may not be ready to give up his McDonald's fix, but he could trim the calories, saturated fat, and sodium to make it a little healthier. That might mean cutting out one of his sandwiches.

If he had to choose, the Filet-O-Fish would be the smarter pick over the Big Mac. Sure, it's fried, but it has 3.8 grams of saturated fat compared to the Big Mac's 8.3 grams. It also packs about half the sodium and even offers heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The Filet-O-Fish also comes in at 185 fewer calories, which could be spent on something sweet.

Of course, no McDonald's meal feels complete without fries. A small order adds 229 calories, but it also delivers nearly 3 grams of fiber and 423 milligrams of potassium. Believe it or not, McDonald's fries actually have more potassium than sodium (as long as you don't drown them in extra salt), which is a plus for blood pressure. They even sneak in some B vitamins and omega-3s.

And then there's dessert. Apple slices would be the obvious healthy choice, but if he wanted to indulge a little, those 185 saved calories could go toward a chocolate chip cookie. It's not perfect with 4 grams of saturated fat and 15 grams of added sugar, but it keeps the whole meal (Filet-O-Fish, small fries, and cookie) at 780 calories, 9.5 grams of saturated fat, and 19 grams of added sugar. Not exactly health food, but definitely a smarter swap than before.