The White House faced criticism on Thursday after its official social media account credited former President Donald Trump with Wendy's decision to bring back its iconic yellow packaging. The fast-food chain announced it would be reviving its yellow trays and takeout bags, which were last used more than a decade ago, starting later in November and continuing through early 2027.
The White House responded to a social media post by @PopCrave announcing the packaging's return with a message stating, "Thank you, President Trump!!!!!" This prompted a swift backlash, with many online users and media figures calling the post "unspeakably pathetic" and questioning the connection between the former president and the fast-food chain's branding decision.
Critics pointed out that the packaging return was initiated by Wendy's, not by a presidential decree or policy. Some users sarcastically thanked Trump for other issues, such as "soaring gas and diesel prices," while others noted the incongruity, with one user writing, "somehow trump has something to do with this."
Reports indicated that a community note was briefly attached to the White House post, clarifying that the president "did not directly bring back" the packaging, although this note was reportedly no longer visible by Sunday morning. The White House's attempt to link Trump to the Wendy's packaging revival was widely seen as an effort to associate him with positive consumer news, drawing parallels to a previous instance where the White House credited Trump with stopping hurricanes from forming.