Donald Trump, a fast-food lover, said he paid for the meal himself because of the partial government shutdown, which has led to furloughs among federal workers, including at the White House.

Otherwise, he joked, first lady Melania Trump and Karen Pence, Vice President Mike Pence’s wife, would be making salads.

“I had a choice. Do we have no food for you, because we have a shutdown?” Trump told the team gathered on Monday in the White House East Room. “Or do we give you some little quick salads that the first lady will make, along with, along with the second lady. They’ll make some salads. And I said, ‘You guys aren’t into salads’.”

“Or do I go out… do I go out and send out for about 1,000 hamburgers, Big Macs,” Trump said.

Late-night TV hosts ridiculed the president, with NBC’s Seth Meyers joking, in a Trumpian voice: “Normally I would have a salad for dinner on Monday, but they told me they only eat every fast food.”

Stephen Colbert of CBS asked whether Trump was “just projecting your favourite foods on to them”.

The fast-food feast apparently startled some of the players. Clemson offensive lineman Matt Bockhorst tweeted “I mean you’re not just gonna NOT eat the Big Macs stacked in a pile right?”

Some Twitter users criticised the president for serving such food to college athletes, whose diets are strictly controlled by nutritionists. However, others tweeted that they thought the menu was just right for college students.

Trump appeared to defend his decision on Tuesday in a tweet about how quickly the food was eaten.

“Great being with the National Champion Clemson Tigers last night at the White House. Because of the shutdown I served them massive amounts of Fast Food (I paid), over 1,000 hamburgers etc. Within one hour, it was all gone. Great guys and big eaters!” he wrote.

Silver trays held stacks of wrapped burgers from Wendy’s. Also on offer were boxed burgers from McDonald’s, including Big Macs. White House cups bearing the presidential seal held the fries.

Pizzas, some topped with olives and tomatoes, were also on the menu. Silver bowls held the condiments, and stacks of white plates sat nearby. Several young men were spotted eating multiple burgers at the stand-up tables dotting the East Room.

“We ordered American fast food, paid for by me. Lots of hamburgers, lots of pizza,” he said. “We have some very large people that like eating, so I think we’re going to have a little fun.”

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said much of the staff in the White House residence has been furloughed because of the shutdown, “so the president is personally paying for the event to be catered with some of everyone’s favourite fast foods”.

The White House didn’t provide the cost. AP/Bloomberg DM

Associated Press writer Shawn Marsh contributed to this report.