October 26, 2024 – Palm Beach, FL – Former President Donald Trump added an unusual promise to his campaign on Friday-to repair the notoriously finicky ice cream machines at McDonald’s if he returns to the White House. A statement by Trump posted to his social media platforms pokes fun at a popular internet meme that pokes fun at just how often McDonald’s soft-serve machines seem to break down-and have become the bane of fast-food lovers’ existence.
“When I’m president, the McDonald’s ice cream machines will work great again!” Trump posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Facebook in a tongue-in-cheek manner that was as humorous as it was interesting. It has resonated well with the followers of the business mogul, who have taken to responding humorously to his post. Many have framed the promise as one of efficiency and problem-solving, while others as comic relief from the sternness of campaign promises.
This is a wild promise, joined by a wider campaign strategy aimed at reengaging voters through humor, familiarity, and references to everyday aggravation. The McDonald’s ice cream machine has long been something of a pop culture meme, with too many customers infuriated by their inability to churn out ice cream or milkshakes on demand.
WHEN I’M PRESIDENT THE MCDONALD’S ICE CREAM MACHINES WILL WORK GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/jqdyMpgnLF
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2024
The tweet was taken as good-natured humor, but many have tried to draw parallels between Trump’s unorthodox campaigning style and his past promises, which often rested on memorable catchphrases. Fans are sharing the post with abandon, filling it full of memes and jokes at the expense of the infamous machines.
The woes of McDonald’s ice cream machines have even attracted serious scrutiny in recent times. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission launched an inquiry into why machines are so often out of order, looking into complicated maintenance and exclusive repair policies. As it has remained relevant over time, all these issues have elevated the meme into a full-fledged cultural talking point: the McDonald’s ice cream machine.
So far, the campaign post has elicited no response from McDonald’s. However, online users are already teasing the fast-food giant to lighten up about Trump’s promise.
But the quip, as lacking in policy weight as it may be, reflects Trump’s penchant for tapping into popular aggravation. How his promise will change things is anyone’s guess, but for now, it certainly has opened up the dialogue and injected some jocularity into the campaign trail.
