Trump Promised to Fix McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines—Will He Deliver?
Boca Raton — Growing up, there was a certain magic in sneaking off to McDonald’s after school. A McDonald’s two blocks from my elementary school was a second home to my latchkey friends and me, where we’d study, sip iced coffees, and revel in our caffeine highs while our parents worked late.
It was at McDonald's that I discovered the simple joy of a vanilla ice cream cone, perfectly paired with salty french fries. But that dream is now a distant memory for many Americans—because, as we all know, the ice cream machine is broken. So much so that most people don’t even bother trying to order it anymore.
In October 2024, Donald Trump tapped into this cultural frustration, pledging on X:
"WHEN I'M PRESIDENT THE MCDONALD'S ICE CREAM MACHINES WILL WORK GREAT AGAIN!"
McDonald’s claims that 95% of its ice cream machines are working at any given time, but my experience—and that of countless Americans—tells a different story. I’ve taken the little girl I babysit to McDonald’s about a dozen times in the past year, and not once did we manage to get ice cream with her apple pies. The machines were always down.
The Real Reason McDonald's Ice Cream Machines Are "Broken"
The issue isn’t that the machines are physically broken—it’s that they’re neglected. Employees have explained that these complicated machines require frequent deep cleaning, and when labor costs rise, cleaning them takes a backseat. Calling it "broken" is just the easiest excuse.
This problem became such a cultural phenomenon that in 2020, a developer even created McBroken, a map tracking which McDonald’s actually have functioning ice cream machines.
And yet, every day, TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit are flooded with new posts lamenting the same problem. It’s a crisis—not of supply chains, but of chocolate and vanilla portions.
The Franchise Wars & A Slow Road to Reform
After the McDonald’s Franchise Wars of 2023, owner-operated McDonald’s were finally granted the legal right to clean their own ice cream machines in 2024. But reform has been slow. While franchisees now technically have permission to fix their own machines, many still don’t have access to the necessary tools.
The reality is that 70 million people visit McDonald’s daily, and many of those in the United States are Trump supporters. During the campaign, Trump famously served McDonald’s at his rallies and events, a nod to his populist, pro-America branding. If McDonald's ice cream machine dysfunction is a symbol of corporate stagnation, then Trump—now back in the White House—has the opportunity to fix it.
What’s Causing the Problem?
Most McDonald’s locations use Taylor brand ice cream machines, which run on a heat treat cycle every day, week, or month—depending on the franchise. But across franchises, cleaning policies are notoriously inconsistent.
For instance, Australian McDonald’s workers say their machines are cleaned daily, whereas most American locations clean theirs weekly or even monthly. That’s a recipe for disaster when dealing with dairy-based products.
Beyond cleaning, these machines frequently break down, fueling the Right to Repair movement. Until recently, McDonald’s franchise owners were legally barred from fixing their own machines. Instead, they were forced to rely on Taylor—the manufacturer—to do repairs, often leaving locations without ice cream for weeks at a time.
This finally changed in 2024 when a new federal rule allowed outside vendors to fix McDonald's ice cream machines. But it’s still a half-measure—the rule didn’t go far enough, since it didn’t grant franchise owners access to the necessary repair tools.
Can Trump Fix This?
President Trump has already demonstrated his command over American businesses. Since January 20, we’ve seen a flurry of executive orders on issues from DEI in the federal government to energy production, proving that he’s serious about tackling problems head-on.
If Trump truly is the master businessman he claims to be, why not call a meeting with the corporate elites controlling McDonald’s? He could pressure them to finally fix this issue once and for all—whether that means prioritizing repairs, allowing franchisees full repair access, or switching to a new, more reliable machine brand.
It may seem like a trivial issue, but fixing McDonald’s ice cream machines would be a symbolic victory for Trump and his base—proving his commitment to efficiency, business innovation, and deregulation.
And, of course, there’s also the fact that Trump already promised us he’d fix it.
So, Mr. President—this ice cream crisis is real. It's time to make McDonald’s great again.
The little girl I babysit would really appreciate it.
This opinion piece was brought to you by Toni Airaksinen, Senior Editor of Liberty Affair and a journalist based in Delray Beach, Florida. Follow her on Substack , on X @ Toni_Airaksinen and Instagram @Toni_Airaksinen.
