Trump turns to McDonald's in affordability push

✈️ Plus: Flight travel returns to full capacity

12:30 REPORT 12:30 REPORT Monday, November 17 | By Cate Martel Today in DC: ☀️ 50°  View Online  |  Sign up It's Monday. Readers, I'm taking a poll and want to know what you think. Which public breakup has been more stunning to watch: Trump and Elon Musk or Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene? Click one to email me your vote. In today's issue: President leans into affordability issue Trump's stunning Jeffrey Epstein reversal MTG apologizes for taking part in 'toxic politics' Flights return to full capacity Hottest toys for Christmas 2025 🍟 IN THE WHITE HOUSE Turn your attention to the value menu: Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool President Trump is taking his affordability pitch today to an audience that is particularly close to his heart: McDonald's owners, operators and suppliers. The president is speaking at the Impact Summit, hosted by McDonald's, this evening in Washington. Axios reports that Trump will emphasize what his administration has done to help small businesses and job creators. Think: No tax on tips or overtime. Trump has long relished the fast-food brand. He worked at a McDonald's drive-thru in Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign and famously served McDonald's (among other fast food) to a college football team visiting the White House during his first term. How to watch: Trump will deliver remarks at 6 p.m. 💻 Livestream How it ties into the affordability pitch: Consumer prices are high, despite Trump's insistence that prices are dropping, and the president is seeking to show that Americans' concerns over affordability are top of mind for him. McDonald's is a particularly notable outlet for that message, with consumers for years facing sticker shock over the historically affordable chain's prices. The CEO recently acknowledged this and cut the prices of eight popular combo meals. Trump even mentioned affordability when reversing on the Epstein files: The president included a plea to spend more time focusing on affordability and other economic issues in his Truth Social post late Sunday urging Republicans to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein story (more on that below). Bringing down prices was a key issue for voters in the 2024 election, and Democrats are feeling energized on the topic after this month's elections. Democrats have broadly signaled they plan to focus on heightened prices heading into the 2026 midterms, something Trump is hoping to blunt by touting his administration's push on curbing drug prices and other efforts. He's also planning more travel to emphasize his economic message. 💬 Follow today's live blog ➤ A LITTLE ~MCNUGGET~:  Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters recently divulged what Trump eats from McDonald's. "He had hot fries waiting for him from McDonald's. ... And then he had a Filet-O-Fish, a Quarter Pounder, and a Big Mac, and I think he combined two of them," Gruters told the "Chambers, Changes & Conversations" podcast.  Plus, Trump reportedly drank an orange soda. "I had two of the sandwiches and I was sick as a dog for like 24 hours," Gruters added. I ~grimaced~ just reading this. If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em: After months of public objections, President Trump reversed himself late Sunday night and called for House Republicans to vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. That was a plot twist few in Washington expected. Why the switcheroo?: The vote couldn't be stopped. The House reached the 218-signature threshold to force a vote on the Epstein files last week as the House reconvened to vote to reopen the government. And dozens of Republicans have appeared ready to vote "yes" to release the files, despite Trump's objections. This is a big deal: The Epstein vote has been looming over the House for much of the summer and fall. Democrats accused Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of keeping the chamber out for nearly two months to avoid the vote. (Johnson denies this.) After the House reconvened last week, Johnson swore in Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who became the final signature needed to force a vote. The White House worked fiercely last week to stop the effort, with Trump reaching out to two House GOP lawmakers who have been in favor of the file release in an attempt to change their minds. None of that worked. Meanwhile, Trump has sought to shift the narrative in recent days after Democrats released emails renewing scrutiny of his own past ties to the disgraced financier. The president ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday to investigate Democrats' ties to Epstein. Bondi then tapped one of the most powerful prosecutors in the country to lead the investigation. Could this be another idea to block the file release?: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) thinks so. He warned this new Trump-mandated investigation could interfere with Congress's effort to mandate the files be released. What happens if the Epstein file release passes the House?: It would still need to pass the Senate with at least 13 Republican votes, assuming all Democrats are in favor. 🥊 ON CAPITOL HILL  The very public breakup: President Trump's feud with longtime fierce ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) significantly escalated over the weekend. The president yanked her endorsement, dubbing her "Marjorie 'Traitor' Greene" and a "ranting lunatic," setting off a public battle between the two. ^ Well, he first called her "Marjorie Taylor Brown" because, he said, "Green grass turns Brown when it begins to ROT." He then tweaked her nickname shortly after to "Marjorie 'Traitor' Green." Greene says her life is in danger: "Those are the types of words used that can radicalize people against me and put my life in danger," Greene told CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday's "State of the Union."   Trump has brushed off those concerns, telling a reporter on Sunday, "I don't think her life is in danger. I don't think — frankly, I don't think anybody cares about her." This was interesting: Bash pointed out that Greene has taken part in similar attacks until they were directed at her. Greene didn't disagree. "Humbly, I'm sorry for taking part in the toxic politics," she responded. 📹 Watch Greene's full response ✈️ OTHER NEWS Cue a collective sigh of relief for Thanksgiving: Flight traffic is back at full capacity! Beginning at 6 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially ended its flight reductions at major U.S. airports due to the government shutdown. Remember: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that flight travel would be "massively" disrupted if the shutdown extended through the weekend. ➤ QUICK HITS: — Trump says that New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani wants to meet with him in Washington, D.C. "We'll work something out," Trump says. — The White House pulled a rule that would have forced airlines to pay passengers for flight disruptions. ➤ MORE READS: The New York Times: The Unraveling of the Justice Department: Sixty attorneys describe a year of chaos and suspicion. The Wall Street Journal: Wall Street Blows Past Bubble Worries to Supercharge AI Spending Frenzy Axios: Ted Cruz sets stage for 2028 run with Tucker jabs The Washington Post: Fight over abortion could doom Congress's health care plans COMING UP The House is in. The Senate is out. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) 2 p.m. meets with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026. 6 p.m. Trump speaks at McDonald's Impact Summit in Washington. 💻 Livestream 6:30 p.m. First and last House votes. 📆 Today's agenda Tuesday: Trump will host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. 3 p.m. Tuesday: The Senate returns. 📆 Tuesday's agenda 🐝 INTERNET BUZZ 🧈 Celebrate: Today is National Baklava Day and National Butter Day!   ⛵ The next 'Real Housewives' location: Bravo released a trailer for "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island," which will air in 2026. 📹 Watch the trailer   🧸 The hot toys of 2025: NBC's "Today" compiled a list of the most popular toys for Christmas 2025. I keep hearing about this hatching dinosaur egg!  📝 See the list 👋 AND FINALLY… To brighten your Monday afternoon, watch this pup experience pure excitement and bliss.  Stay Engaged  I love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. 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