The early White House life of President Donald Trump was highly unconventional. He avoided the formal dining room, ate in his bedroom, and maintained an extremely restricted menu centered on hamburgers and beef. In particular, the revelation by biographer Michael Wolff that Trump preferred fast food like McDonald’s for ‘safety against poisoning’ caused a sensation. This is interpreted as a reflection of his need for control and deep-seated distrust, extending beyond mere personal preference, and serving as a backdrop for internal White House turmoil.
The “Wild Child” Dining Style That Shook the White House
When President Trump first entered the White House, his behavior caused unprecedented disruption. The fact that a President refused to use the formal dining room in an institution that values official protocol and custom was shocking. Biographer Michael Wolff testified that Trump acted like a “child raised in the wild,” preferring to eat in his bedroom, often even in bed. This is interpreted as more than just a search for comfort; it is a case study illustrating his psychological tendency to maximize personal space and control. For a President, mealtime might be an extension of official meetings and protocol, but for Trump, it may have been the only time he could apply his own rules without external interference.
This non-traditional dining style also posed significant difficulties for White House staff. The location and time of the President’s meals were unpredictable, and preparing meals in a private space rather than a formal setting created various problems in terms of protocol and security. This was a symbolic event that foreshadowed his reluctance to easily assimilate into the existing political system and conventions from the very beginning of the Trump administration.
Trump, the McDonald’s Enthusiast: The ‘Safety First’ Doctrine
The most notable aspect of Trump’s eating habits is his fixation on certain fast foods, including McDonald’s. According to Wolff’s testimony, his ‘signature dish’ was always a hamburger, mostly from outside sources. The issue is that this preference was not merely based on taste. When asked by the co-host about a ‘food tester,’ Wolff gave a meaningful answer: Trump’s real food tester was none other than ‘Mister McDonald’s.’
The decisive reason Trump favored McDonald’s was ‘safety.’ He believed that McDonald’s food was pre-packaged and that ‘no individual had touched it’ during the production process. Simply put, he was convinced it was safer from the risk of poison or terrorism. This kind of thinking reveals the depth of Trump’s distrust of his surrounding people and environment. Especially in the position of the highest authority, the fear of assassination or terror can be extremely high, and for him, fast food likely functioned as a psychological defense mechanism to minimize ‘uncontrollable variables.’
The ‘Beef-Centric’ Extreme Dietary Pattern and the Psychology of Control
Trump’s diet was confined to an ‘unbelievably narrow range.’ As Wolff mentioned, everything was essentially centered on beef, and the pattern rarely changed. This is a crucial point that reflects his obsessive and controlling personality, going beyond simply lacking interest in gourmet food. Human eating habits are closely linked to psychology, and an extremely monotonous diet can be an expression of a psychological need to seek predictability and stability.
The behavior of insisting on specific foods and avoiding new attempts aligns with Trump’s aversion to change and uncertainty. In the complex and unpredictable working environment of the presidency, he likely wanted to maintain perfect control over his meals. Wolff’s speculation that he would have eaten a hamburger instead of turkey, even on special holidays like Thanksgiving, suggests that he valued his personal rules far more than official customs. His behavior—prioritizing personal safety and comfort over tradition or formal protocol—is consistent with the image of a ‘non-political politician’ he projected throughout his term.
An ‘Un-Presidential’ Lifestyle Born of Control and Distrust
President Donald Trump’s habit of eating in his bedroom and his insistence on McDonald’s go beyond mere gossip; they provide a crucial key to understanding his governing style and inner psychology. His behavior of avoiding official protocol and seeking safety in fast food was a result of projecting strong distrust and a desire for control over his surroundings, even while at the pinnacle of power. The fact that he found the motive for ‘avoiding the risk of poisoning’ in McDonald’s packaging starkly illustrates the extent of his isolation and his almost paranoid sense of safety. Trump’s non-traditional lifestyle clashed with the traditional image of the White House and caused continuous turmoil, yet, paradoxically, it also served to strengthen his ‘anti-establishment’ image. Ultimately, Trump’s eating habits can be described as an extraordinary White House scene brought about by his compulsion for control and predictability.