Trump endorses Cracker Barrel after conservative backlash for removing 'Uncle Herschel' from its logo
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump took to social media on Thursday, September 4, to endorse Cracker Barrel after the company faced conservative backlash for removing the "Uncle Herschel" character from its logo.
On August 19, the day after the redesigned logo was unveiled, foot traffic at Cracker Barrel locations declined, according to credit and debit card data from Bloomberg Second Measure.
Trump posts an animated clip of himself dancing with 'Uncle Herschel'
Donald Trump posted an animated clip on X (formerly Twitter) showing the old Cracker Barrel logo. The 33-second video featured "Uncle Herschel" and the POTUS shaking hands and dancing to "YMCA" by Village People. The post has since racked up more than 17 million views.
Conservatives derided the new design as "woke," while longtime diners complained that the refreshed look stripped away the nostalgic charm that defined the chain. Trump urged Cracker Barrel to revert to its old design, later taking credit when the company restored the original logo.
Trump wrote on Truth Social during the backlash, "Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before."
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich said he had spoken with Cracker Barrel executives who confirmed Trump’s remarks influenced their decision.
🇺🇸 Donald J.Trump
— David VS Goliath (@AntiSin3) August 27, 2025
Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before. They got a Billion Dollars worth of free publicity if they play their cards right. Very tricky to do,…
"I appreciated the call earlier this evening with @CrackerBarrel. They thanked President Trump for weighing in on the issue of their iconic ‘original’ logo," Budowich wrote on X.
"They wanted the President to know that they heard him, along with customer response (the ultimate poll), and would be restoring the 'Old Timer,'" he added.
Bloomberg's analytics revealed that while similar chains saw mixed results, Cracker Barrel’s sales decline appeared tied directly to the logo change and ensuing MAGA backlash.
I appreciated the call earlier this evening with @CrackerBarrel. They thanked President Trump for weighing in on the issue of their iconic “original” logo. They wanted the President to know that they heard him, along with customer response (the ultimate poll), and would be… https://t.co/z8smaUVYKE
— Taylor Budowich (@TayFromCA) August 26, 2025
In a statement, Cracker Barrel said, "We thank our guests for sharing their voices, and we’re listening to them." The rebranding had been intended to attract younger customers and counter slowing sales.
Internet reacts to Trump’s Cracker Barrel post
Social media users shared mixed but colorful reactions after Trump endorsed the restaurant.
One person wrote, "Oh that's hilarious and wonderful!!!" while another called it "Genius marketing."
A person stated, "Nature is healing," whereas someone else called it "absolutely incredible."
One more praised Trump, writing, "His dance is my favorite," and another added, "We live in the best timeline."
An individual gushed over the president, saying, "Lol gotta love President Trump," whereas a person stated, "You saved an American icon. Thank you."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
