This week, a large McDonald’s order stole the spotlight in a Manhattan court as former US president Donald Trump faces a $250 million civil fraud case. Amidst the legal proceedings, staff members clad in suits were observed ferrying numerous bags adorned with the iconic golden ‘M’ into the Centre Street complex during a lunch break.
While the identity of the person who placed the order remains unknown, Trump’s enduring fondness for McDonald’s is no secret. His son-in-law and former senior advisor, Jared Kushner, revealed in his 2022 memoir that Trump’s preferred McDonald’s meal consisted of a Big Mac, a Filet-o-Fish, fries, and a vanilla shake.
Special delivery for Trump
During the court lunch break, tabloid news agency TMZ captured footage of men with black suits carrying around six large bags of McDonald’s food into the New York courthouse. Screenshots and photos of this were posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Trump’s penchant for fast food was a regular feature during his presidency. Notably, in January 2019, he welcomed the NCAA’s Clemson Tigers football team to the White House with a banquet of McDonald’s meals. “We’ve got Big Macs, we’ve got Quarter Pounders, we’ve got everything that I like and you like,” Trump said during the event. The banquet of quarter-pounders and sides allegedly cost around $5,500.
Despite criticism, Trump remained undeterred, even replicating the fast-food feast for the Division I FCS champion North Dakota State Bison two months later.
The public weighs in
It’s unusual to see a trail of McDonald’s packets roll their way into one of the most prestigious courthouses in the world.
The public weighed varying opinions on the footage posted by TMZ on X, mostly offering personal opinions about the fast food chain and its food.
“He’s having a hectic day. Let the man eat,” says one X user. Another simply notes, “Stress eating man. We all been there.”
Food delivery taking centre stage
While Trump has a barrage of suits on his payroll, eager to ferry around fast food orders, not everyone is so lucky. There are a myriad of apps that allow for fresh, fast food delivery at the touch of a button.
And the food delivery industry is rapidly evolving. The most recent development is the employment of delivery robots by industry names like Uber Eats and Bold Food. These delivery robots are currently operating in certain states in the US, and will bring food ordered via the app directly to your door.
Thanks to this, the outdoor delivery robots market is experiencing a surge in growth, propelled by key technological advancements. Machine learning, the increasing digitalization of processes, and the integration of robotics with AI and cloud technology are reshaping the landscape of automated food deliveries.
One of the driving forces behind this trend is the global demand for reducing harmful vehicle emissions. Governments worldwide actively seek eco-friendly alternatives, making robots an increasingly preferred option for last-mile food deliveries.
Maybe next time, we’ll see Trump’s favorite feast delivered by an automated delivery robot.
