USA, Feb. 16 -- McDonald's new German advertising campaign highlights local farmers and "100% German beef," signaling a shift away from overt American imagery. The strategy reflects changing European sentiment toward U.S. brands amid Trump-era politics, showing how geopolitics increasingly influences consumer perception, tourism narratives, and the global identity of iconic companies.

For generations, McDonald's represented more than burgers in Germany - it symbolized an easygoing American lifestyle that Europeans associated with road trips, pop culture, and the freedom of travel across the Atlantic. Today, however, new advertising campaigns across Germany tell a very different story.

Instead of stars and stripes or overt American imag...