When politics meets food, things can get pretty wild. A Chicago hot dog stand created a three-inch “Trump Footlong” that sold for just $2.69, and it became one of the most talked-about menu items in the country. This wasn’t just a random joke – it sparked a whole movement of restaurants naming dishes after politicians. From tiny hot dogs to oversized burgers, these politically-themed foods have been making people laugh, argue, and surprisingly, come back for more.
The Wiener’s Circle turned political commentary into a menu item
The Wiener’s Circle in Chicago isn’t your typical hot dog stand. They’re famous for their sassy staff who playfully insult customers, and customers love giving it right back. So when Donald Trump planned a campaign stop in Chicago during 2016, they decided to “welcome” him with their own special creation. The restaurant created a deliberately small hot dog – just three inches long – as a joke about the ongoing debate during the primaries about Trump’s hand size.
The Trump Footlong came with all the classic Chicago-style toppings: mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, pickles, peppers, and celery salt. Despite being a joke, customers who tried it said it actually tasted great. The restaurant even made promotional signs reading “3 Inches Of The Best Tasting, Most Flavorful Beef You’ve Ever Had. We Guarantee You There’s No Problem. We Guarantee It.” They sold “Make Wieners Great Again” hats to complete the experience.
Multiple package deals made the joke even funnier
The Wiener’s Circle didn’t stop at just one tiny hot dog. They created an entire menu around the concept, calling it “The Art of the Meal.” For customers who found one three-inch hot dog too small (which was pretty much everyone), they offered the “Trump Package” with two mini dogs, fries, and a drink for $8.30. The real crowd-pleaser was the “Trump Super PAC” – four three-inch hot dogs plus fries and a drink for $12.56.
The promotion wasn’t meant as a serious political statement, according to restaurant supervisor Yolanda Smile. It was just meant to get people talking and laughing. The joke worked so well that photos of the hot dog and promotional materials spread quickly on social media. An older couple visiting the restaurant called it the “best sign” they’d ever seen, and people came from all over just to try the infamous tiny hot dog.
Trump Burger in Texas took the opposite approach
While Chicago was making fun with tiny hot dogs, Texas went big with Trump-themed food. Trump Burger in Bellville, Texas, opened in 2020 and serves massive 8-ounce and 12-ounce Angus beef burgers. Unlike The Wiener’s Circle, this restaurant was created as a tribute to Trump, not a joke about him. Owner Rolan Beainy moved from Lebanon to the U.S. in 2019 and opened the restaurant one year later.
The Trump Burger and Trump Tower meals come with Belleville fries, and every bun is stamped with “Trump” so there’s no confusion about where the food came from. The concept worked so well in red-state Texas that Beainy opened a second location in Flatonia and has plans for two more restaurants in 2025. All the burger buns are branded with Trump’s name, making every meal a political statement.
International restaurants joined the Trump food trend
The Trump food phenomenon wasn’t limited to the United States. In London, Lucky Chip created “The Donald Trump” burger in 2015 for National Burger Day. This burger was designed to be offensive in every way possible – it was cooked medium and “might be a little bloody,” came with orange American cheese, grilled onions to mimic Trump’s hair, and contained no Mexican ingredients. The restaurant made sure to point out that the bourbon and vanilla barbecue sauce made it “really, really rich.”
In Kyiv, Ukraine, a pizzeria called Trump White served a pizza called the Trumpino, though the restaurant has since been renamed to Nolan after tensions with Russia escalated. Mexico got in on the action too, with Taqueria El Tio Beto creating a “Trump Taco” made with “a little brains, a lot of tongue, and pork’s mouth.” The taco’s creator jokingly warned customers it was made with “crazy cow’s brain” and advised them to be careful.
Del Frisco’s created competing political burgers
When the 2016 election heated up between Trump and Hillary Clinton, Del Frisco’s Grille decided to capitalize on the rivalry. They created both “The Donald” and “The Hillary” as part of their Political Burgers promotion in July 2016. The Donald featured two thin, double-griddled beef patties with aged cheddar cheese, and the contents were “stacked almost as high as Mr. Trump’s proposed wall.” The bun was dusted with gold leaf and came with an American flag toothpick.
The restaurant didn’t hold back on the political humor, giving The Donald the tagline “It’s sooo yuge, it will make your hands look small.” The well-done patties referenced Trump’s preference for burnt steak, while the gold bun played up his reputation as a wealthy businessman. The aged cheddar and tiny gherkin were meant to poke fun at his physical characteristics. As for The Hillary burger? Del Frisco’s kept those ingredients classified, which was probably the funniest joke of all.
Canadian restaurants used food for political commentary
Up north, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company in Ontario created what might be the most brutal Trump-themed food item ever. Their Trump Sandwich was designed to showcase what many international critics thought about the presidential candidate. The sandwich was full of baloney, served on white bread with Russian dressing and a small pickle. Each ingredient was chosen to make a specific point about Trump’s character and claims.
The brewery advertised the sandwich on a chalkboard outside their establishment, and the image has been shared widely on social media over the years. When Trump made comments about Canada becoming the 51st state and threatened tariffs in 2025, the photo of Beau’s Trump Sandwich got new life online. The restaurant doesn’t appear to offer the sandwich anymore, but the concept perfectly captured how many Canadians felt about their neighbor to the south.
Customer reactions ranged from hilarious to heated
People’s reactions to Trump-themed food were as divided as you’d expect. At The Wiener’s Circle, many customers found the three-inch hot dog hilarious and came specifically to try it and take photos with the promotional signs. Social media helped spread the word, with images of the tiny hot dog going viral. Some customers were regular patrons who appreciated the restaurant’s trademark humor, while others were tourists who heard about the famous political hot dog.
Not everyone was amused, though. The Wiener’s Circle reported receiving “a lot of hate emails” from people who didn’t appreciate the joke. Some customers seemed confused by the whole concept and didn’t understand the message behind the small hot dog. When the restaurant later partnered with a Planned Parenthood mobile clinic while still selling the Trump dog, they received even more criticism. But controversy often helps restaurants get attention, and the mixed reactions didn’t hurt their business.
Political food trends continue beyond Trump
The success of Trump-themed menu items showed that political food can be good for business, even when it’s controversial. Restaurants have been naming dishes after politicians for years, but the Trump phenomenon took it to a new level. The combination of humor, politics, and social media made these menu items go viral in ways that traditional political food never did. Some restaurants used these items to make genuine political statements, while others just wanted the publicity.
The trend shows how food and politics often mix, especially during heated election seasons. Whether restaurants are praising or criticizing politicians, themed menu items get people talking. The Trump Footlong at The Wiener’s Circle became so popular that it returned to the menu during Trump’s 2024 campaign, coinciding with the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. These foods might be temporary, but they create lasting memories and stories that people share long after the political seasons end.
Some restaurants changed course when politics shifted
Political winds can change quickly, and some restaurants learned this the hard way. The Ukrainian pizzeria that served the Trumpino pizza decided to rebrand completely when tensions with Russia escalated. After Trump’s meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy created concerns in Europe, owner Roman Kravtsov changed his Trump White pizzeria to simply “Nolan.” The Trumpino pizza was retired during the rebrand, showing how international politics can affect local food businesses.
Other restaurants found that political food items work best as limited-time offers rather than permanent menu fixtures. The Wiener’s Circle brought back their Trump Footlong for special occasions, but it wasn’t a year-round item. Del Frisco’s Political Burgers were clearly marked as a limited-edition promotion tied to the 2016 election. Smart restaurant owners seem to understand that political food can be great for short-term buzz, but might become stale if left on the menu too long.
Political food items prove that restaurants can use humor and current events to get attention and bring in customers. Whether it’s a three-inch hot dog or a gold-dusted burger, these menu items create experiences that people remember and share. The next time a politically-themed food item pops up on a menu near you, it might be worth trying just for the story you’ll have to tell later.
