Donald Trump’s campaign spent over $35,000 on fast food and catering in the month of May, with the largest portion of transactions at McDonald’s, according to new financial disclosures.
According to data provided by Donald J. Trump For President 2024 — the official campaign aimed at supporting the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s reelection bid — the campaign spent over $36,780 in the period in 113 transactions in chains including Chick Fil-A, Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden‘s official campaign, Biden For President, spent more than $32,100 on food and drinks in 17 transactions in June. His campaign patronized steakhouses and independent BBQ restaurants including Asadero, Tonic Seafood and Steak and Dragon Pit rather than fast food chains.
The monthly filings were made available by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Newsweek was unable to establish who the catering was for and for how many people.
The disclosures showed Trump’s spent more than $4,700 at McDonald’s, the biggest. beneficiary.
Trump’s operation also spent over $3,900 in Jimmy John’s, a sandwich chain, and $3,140 in Chick Fil-A. The group spent more than $1,700 at Wendy’s and $1,500 at Dunkin Donuts during the month.
They also patronized Uber Eats, Starbucks, KFC and other venues.
Newsweek contacted the Trump and Biden campaigns and the named companies by email for comment.
The spending came during a month that Trump was in New York, fighting his hush-money case. He was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment allegedly made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has said the case was politically motivated.
While out of the courtroom for one day a week, he hosted rallies in a number of states including Wisconsin and Michigan.
Trump’s diet has been the subject of much prior scrutiny.
Trump’s former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, wrote in the book “Let Trump Be Trump” that the former president would fast for 14 to 16 hours and then eat two Big Macs, two Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, and a small chocolate shake from McDonalds.
A 2017 New York Times report, meanwhile, said the Republican drinks 12 cans of Diet Coke a day.
In total, the Trump campaign spent nearly $7.9 million in the reporting period on an array of services including staff on the payroll, travel, accommodation and legal services and received over $75 million in donations. It started the period with $49 million cash on hand and ended the period with nearly $117 million.
In comparison, the campaign spent over $4,280 on restaurants and catering in the month of April.
Biden’s campaign raised nearly $38 million and spent nearly $31 million in total during the period.
Trump and Biden’s campaigns are likely to heat up as they prepare to face off at the polls. The presidential election takes place on November 5.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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