4 Frugal Habits of Donald Trump
Written by
Rebekah Evans
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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He has a taste for luxury, but President Donald Trump isn’t always fancy. While he might consider himself a Jay Gatsby — think the “A little party never killed nobody” Halloween shindig he hosted at Mar-a-Lago in 2025, according to ABC News — it’s not always expensive to be Trump.
Despite owning a private jet, lavish residences, golf courses and even a winery, the billionaire knows how to cut costs in other areas. Keep reading to uncover five ways Trump pinches pennies.
Fast Food Meals
You might assume a billionaire dines exclusively on delicacies like caviar, lobster and steak, but Trump is his own man. The president has a taste for fast food, including a deep affinity for McDonald’s.
For example, in October 2025, Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican National Committee, revealed Trump’s McDonald’s order on a local government podcast, according to the Daily Beast. This included a Filet-O-Fish, a Quarter Pounder, a Big Mac and fries, which would cost about $26.06, according to DoorDash.
In the past, he’s also posted a picture of himself on X eating Kentucky Fried Chicken and spoken of his liking for Burger King, according to CNN.
Inexpensive Grooming
It’s internationally known, but at least part of Trump’s haircare routine isn’t as expensive as you might think.
To wash his mane, Trump uses Head & Shoulders Shampoo, according to Rolling Stone. A 12.5-ounce bottle of Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Dandruff Shampoo costs $6.99 at Target.
As for keeping his styled locks in place, he uses CHI’s Helmet Head, according to The Cut. A 10-ounce bottle costs $13.94 at Walmart.
Cheap Snacks
When it comes to snacking, Trump is a man of the people. Instead of noshing on delicacies like smoked salmon, artisanal cheeses and expensive smoothies, he prefers standard junk food.
For example, he’s partial to Lay’s Potato Chips, which cost $3.99 for an 8-ounce bag at Target.
In their book “Let Trump Be Trump,” ex-aides David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski also claimed his private plane was stocked with snacks like Vienna Fingers, pretzels and Oreos, according to People.
Additionally, Trump has a such a taste for Diet Coke that he had a button installed on the Oval Office desk to alert staff he needs a beverage, according to Vice. He reportedly drinks up to 12 cans of the soda per day, according to The New York Times. A case of Diet Coke — 12 cans — costs $8.47 at Walmart.
Avoiding Taxes
You might think a billionaire would pay a lot in taxes, but not Trump. From 2015-2020, the president and First Lady Melania Trump reported negative income four times, according to NBC News.
Consequently, in 2016 and 2017, they paid just $750 in net tax on their income and paid no income taxes at all in 2020, according to NPR.
In 2025, the top 1% paid an average of $561,523 in income taxes, according to the Tax Foundation. Even the bottom 50% paid an average of $822 in income taxes, which is less than Trump paid in the years noted above.
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