Daily Mail tackles the giant cheese-infused ‘Trump Tower Burger’ at the legendary New Hampshire restaurant where presidential candidates get the ultimate grilling from voters: Trump, Clinton and Tim Scott were charmed, but DeSantis was a ‘robot’

We love our big, beautiful citizens, don’t we?

And there’s nothing bigger or prettier than the Trump Tower Burger at the Red Arrow diner: a seven-ounce patty (done right, of course) is the base for a macaroni cheese ball, all slathered with cheese sauce, and topped and topped with a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches.

It may have been made by a customer of the New Hampshire political establishment, but it has been bearing the Trump logo since the then-presidential candidate slipped one in after shaking hands with customers during his 2016 campaign.

The dinner has been an essential part of every primary candidate’s schedule since Bill Clinton came along on his way to becoming the “comeback kid” with a second-place finish in the state’s 1992 primary.

Forget town halls and televised debates. Chatting with customers lining the counter or fending off questions and diners rubbing elbows in the cozy booths present the toughest possible test in national politics, says co-owner Amanda Wihby, 41.

The Trump Tower Burger is an architectural collection of patties, grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese and more cheese sauce. It’s a job best done with two hands, a big mouth and antacids

‘You get the difficult questions. There are people on this side,” she said, pointing to the narrow strip of standing room, “and on the other side.

“So you can’t go anywhere. They have to answer.

“This is grassroots politics at its best.”

Some credit the Clinton visit and his victorious campaign with inventing the whole idea of ​​“retail politics.”

In New Hampshire, where Republicans will choose their favorite candidate on Tuesday, that means every voter expects to shake hands with presidential candidates, look them in the eye and test their mettle.

There are always votes to be won at the Red Diner. The 24-hour spot is buzzing with independents ready to talk politics.

The walls are a who’s who of candidates. A young (well, younger) Joe Biden holds up a baby in a photo from a bygone campaign.

A youthful Barack Obama beams down from the wall.

As one joker put it, the Constitution might as well say that the U.S. president must be a natural-born citizen, be at least 35 years old, and have visited the Red Arrow restaurant at least once.

The Trump Tower Burger is a seven-ounce beef patty, with a mac and cheese ball, plus two grilled cheese sandwiches, all dripping with extra cheese sauce

Co-owners Amanda Wihby and George Lawrence have welcomed all candidates for the 2024 race. “This is grassroots politics at its best,” Wihby said

The restaurant has been a fixture on the New Hampshire circuit since Bill Clinton visited during his first presidential campaign. His state runner-up finish in 1992 kick-started his run

Joe Biden visited the country in July 2007 during one of his many presidential campaigns. That time he was defeated by Barack Obama, who also stopped by the Red Arrow Diner

Senator Hillary Clinton shook hands with voters in 2007. She won the state, but not the nomination

Senator Tim Scott visited the country in April 2023, weeks before launching his campaign. He walked up and down the counter to pour coffee for the customers and ducked into the kitchen to talk to the chefs

A photo of former President Donald Trump belongs to the gallery of political figures

Other faces may be forgotten more quickly. Doug Burgum, who dropped out of the 2024 Republican race in December, appears in one of his branded vests. Not far from his spot is Frances Suarez, the mayor of Miami, who failed to advance last August.

Senator Tim Scott has been a big hit in the current race.

‘He kept out all the media and took his time. He grabbed the coffee pot, walked down the line pouring coffee for everyone, shook everyone’s hands, and then went into the kitchen.”

And if a person’s characteristic can be measured by the way he treats the wait staff, that has even more meaning for presidential candidates in dinner parties.

‘There are people who are beautiful and you can tell they are real people. And then there are others that are just here, just going through the motions…kind of like robots.”

Her co-owner George Lawrence, 83, agreed.

“That was DeSantis,” he added helpfully. ‘A robot.’

Nikki Haley, Obama, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Pompeo and more have all stopped by. But local bloy Adam Sandler probably has more photos of other celebrities on his wall

Ron DeSantis visited last May. He was peppered with questions from voters at the counter

He was asked tough questions about Disney and its war against Wake.

There’s no better test, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who has a plaque in one of the stalls, told DailyMail.com, especially if a candidate orders the “mug of bacon” from the quirky menu.

“I used to take my bacon and dip it in the milkshake, which made for a great combination,” he said.

“So if you know how to handle the red arrow and take a little bacon, that’s a winning move.”

Only one candidate has a menu item named after him. That came when Trump visited for an interview in 2016.

He stayed for lunch and grazed on the towering, cheesy, sturdy structure then known as the Newton Burger.

The Red Arrow Diner has been around for 101 years. But the situation was dire when the Lawrence family took over. Today it is a thriving 24-hour institution in Manchester

When Trump returned in 2023, the place was packed with media and Secret Service agents. He first visited as a long-shot candidate during the 2016 elections.

It doesn’t look like a sandwich so much as an architectural monument to the idea that more is more. Especially when it comes to cheese.

For the customer who can get the whole thing in his mouth, the overwhelming sensation is crispy toast, creamy macaroni and cheese, and an overwhelming smell of power.

Even the top layer of grilled cheese is golden, reminiscent of that famous pompadour hairstyle.

“He ordered it, ate it, loved it, ate it and we thought an appropriate name would be the Trump Tower burger,” Whiby said.

And for once, the Trump Organization relaxed its tight control over naming rights.