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President Donald Trump used a speech at McDonald’s 2025 Impact Summit in Washington, D.C., to weigh in on a decades-old menu staple, saying the chain should serve a little more tartar sauce on its Filet-O-Fish. The remark has reignited a wider conversation about the sandwich’s origins, recipe quirks and the small changes customers often ask for.
Why this matters now
A comment from a high-profile figure can reshape public attention on routine brand details — and even prompt operational questions for a global chain. Beyond nostalgia, the discussion touches on supply trends for U.S. whitefish, regional menu variations and how customers customize fast-food items today.
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At the summit, the president praised the sandwich and offered a simple request: “You could do a little bit more tartar sauce, though, please,” adding that he dislikes having to ask for extra. That plea echoed across social media, where many customers said they regularly request additional sauce or other tweaks.
How the Filet-O-Fish began
The sandwich traces back to the early 1960s when Cincinnati franchisee Lou Groen saw weekend sales dip in a largely Catholic neighborhood. To serve customers who avoided meat on Fridays during Lent, he developed a breaded fish patty with tartar sauce and a steamed bun.
McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc initially favored a competing idea — the so-called Hula Burger, made from grilled pineapple and cheese. The two concepts were tested on a Friday, and the fish sandwich won by a wide margin. According to company recollections, an employee who backed the losing option paid for a new suit, and the fish sandwich eventually joined the menu permanently.
- Year created: 1962 (Cincinnati)
- Menu addition: Made permanent mid-1960s and priced at under 30 cents at introduction
- Typical composition: Breaded fish fillet, tartar sauce, half slice of American cheese, steamed bun
- Supply impact: Helped increase demand for U.S. whitefish, particularly pollock
Recipe choices and fan fixes
Two recurring questions pop up whenever the sandwich resurfaces in the news: why it comes with only a half slice of cheese, and whether the tartar sauce is generous enough. McDonald’s has said the half slice was part of Groen’s original formulation and intended to balance the sandwich’s flavor; customers can request a full slice at order.
Fans and food creators have proposed other fixes for the sandwich’s perceived shortcomings. Suggestions that have flown around include:
- Asking for extra tartar sauce or receiving sauce packets on the side
- Ordering additional fish patties to make a double or triple Filet-O-Fish for a higher fish-to-bun ratio
- Swapping the tartar for alternative sauces — a former McDonald’s corporate chef recommended trying Big Mac sauce
From a regional experiment to a global product
What started as a local solution during Lent has become a stable menu item across many McDonald’s markets worldwide. The sandwich is adapted in some countries — for example, there are versions with wasabi or regional seasoning blends — but the core elements remain consistent.
Industry observers note that small changes to a staple item can have outsized effects on perception and demand. Increasing the amount of sauce might seem trivial, but on a system that serves millions, even minor recipe or service shifts carry operational considerations.
McDonald’s has previously commented publicly about the sandwich’s construction and regional variations; it also notes customers can customize orders. Retail reactions to the president’s comment were mixed but largely practical: many people agreed that more tartar sauce would improve their Filet-O-Fish experience.
Whether Trump’s suggestion leads to any corporate adjustments is uncertain, but the exchange underlines how a brief remark at a high-profile event can refocus attention on a familiar product and the small choices that shape everyday dining.
