Former President Donald Trump boasted about knowing more about the McDonald’s menu than the staff during his visit to East Palestine, Ohio, on Wednesday.
"So I know this menu better than you do. I probably know it better than anybody in here," Trump said of his McDonald's knowledge during a stop at the fast-food chain to purchase meals for the local fire department.
OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT: TRUMP HAS A MESSAGE FOR BIDEN FROM EAST PALESTINE — 'GET OVER HERE'
The burger run followed a speech Trump gave to locals affected by the fallout from the train derailment that unleashed toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment. During his speech, Trump disbursed "Trump water" and non-Trump branded "lesser quality water." He gave out other critical goods to community members reeling from the toxic spill.
Trump asked for a “nice array of things,” though it is not clear what he ordered for himself.
"What's your speciality today? ... I know this menu better than you do."
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) February 22, 2023
-- Donald Trump in East Palestine Ohio McDonalds ... buys lunch for fire department and police department pic.twitter.com/b3FUSvMQCY
Trump's affinity for McDonald's is widely known. During a government shutdown fight in 2019, he bulk-purchased McDonald's to celebrate the 2018 NCAA FCS college football champions, the North Dakota State Bison.
One of his favorite meals is "Big Mac, Filet-o-Fish, fries, and a vanilla shake," according to his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, per the New York Post.
On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying dangerous chemicals, such as vinyl chloride, derailed near East Palestine. Officials subsequently conducted a controlled burn to prevent a possible explosion, but then, a black plume triggered concerns that there could be additional toxic material released into the nearby environment.
This has raised concerns about drinking water quality, and residents have reported various symptoms, such as rashes, since the derailment ordeal. Vinyl chloride has been linked to liver damage and a rare form of liver cancer.
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Trump and many Republicans have blasted President Joe Biden's Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's handling of the crisis. He has been criticized for not visiting the community sooner. Buttigieg announced recently that he is slated to visit Thursday.
Some Democrats, including Buttigieg, have returned fire. They pinned blame on deregulation enacted by the Trump administration, which they claimed contributed to the derailment. Trump shrugged off that criticism during his visit.