Trump-themed burger joint draws crowds in Texas

UPDATED: Apr 25, 2025 07:30 IST

In a small Texas town northwest of Houston, a Trump-themed burger restaurant is attracting crowds with its mix of political flair and fast food. One of four such franchises in the state, the Bellville location opened in 2020 and has become a weekend hotspot for bikers, families, and supporters of President Donald Trump.

Cardboard cutouts of Trump, 2024 campaign banners, and shelves of MAGA merchandise set the scene, while the menu offers items like the “Trump Burger” and the hefty two-patty “Trump Tower,” priced at USD 16.99.

Each burger bun is branded with the name “Trump.” Also on the menu, at least in jest, is a “Biden Burger,” described as being made with stale buns and old tomatoes, listed at USD 50.99 but marked “unavailable due to cheating and inflation.”

Despite the heavy branding, the franchise is not affiliated with the Trump Organization. Still, it serves as a gathering place for political conversation, and praise for Trump’s return to the White House.

Many customers expressed support for what they see as a productive start to Trump's second term. 47-year-old Jason Sullivan, who works in oil and gas, applauded the administration’s push to revive fossil fuel projects.

“A lot of developments that were shelved under the previous administration are now moving forward,” he said.

Kim Vanek, a 59-year-old retiree, also praised Trump's fast pace in his first 100 days back in office. “He’s on the right path,” she said, referencing the administration’s mass layoffs of civil servants, tariffs targeting foreign imports, and a crackdown on undocumented immigration. “You’re going to see a lot of good things come out of the next three years.”

However, not all patrons were equally enthusiastic.

34-year-old August Money, a Republican working in health care technology, criticized the administration’s handling of tariffs and its deportation policies. “The rollout was chaotic, and the calculations didn’t make much sense,” he said. He also expressed concern about deportations of alleged gang members without court hearings. “That’s a dangerous and slippery slope.”

Located in Austin County, where 80 percent of voters backed Trump in the last election, the Bellville eatery is a symbol of the former president’s enduring appeal—and the divisions that come with it.

(With inputs from AFP)