CMV: Waffle House's $0.50 egg surcharge is a clear dig at and mockery of Trump

During the Presidential campaign, Trump promised "when I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one". He would frequently campaign surrounded by groceries. Infamously, during the campaign, JD Vance commented about eggs being $4.00/dozen while standing in front of signs pricing eggs at $2.99/dozen.

Clearly, reducing prices - and especially grocery and egg prices - was a key focus of the Trump/Vance campaign. And it was promised that they would start reducing prices on Day 1. Instead, egg prices have surged in the first days of his administration. A quick Google search of grocery stores in my area show the cheapest eggs are around $5.50/dozen. In some markets, prices have soared over $10.00/dozen.

In response to the rapid increase in egg prices, Waffle House restaurants have implemented a $0.50 per egg surcharge to their normal menu prices. The surcharge itself may be nothing more than a prudent business decision in response to change economic conditions. But the way in which the surcharge is being disclosed is clearly intended to mock Trump and Vance.

They're not just putting a small black and white sticker on menus disclosing the surcharge or simply have their waitstaff inform customers of the surcharge. Instead, they're essentially adverstising the surcharge with a large starburst callout on their menus and in store windows.

These are the types of methods that are typically used to promote new products or specials. When the McRib is back, McDonald's might put up a window poster. Or when Chili's adds a new appetizer, they might put a starburst like this on the menu to call customer's attention to the new product.

But "yay, $0.50 egg surcharge" isn't a promotion or something that customers would be excited to try, so why is Waffle House presenting it in this promotional manner? The only logical and rational reason I can think of is that it is a subtle (or perhaps not-so-suttle) dig at Trump and Vance. Waffle House is primarily in the south in predominently red states. This is essentially Waffle House making sure that their MAGA customer base, who predominately watch Fox News and other similar media that isn't reporting on egg prices, know that Trump is not following through on his promise to reduce egg prices on day 1. And, in fact, prices are skyrocketing instead.

Many people will first learn of the skyrocketing egg prices from Waffle House. And that is exactly why they're promoting their surcharge the way they are.