Trump works at McDonald’s to use Harris’s lie against her.
Last Sunday, Trump worked at a McDonald’s in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, frying french fries in an attempt to mock Kamala Harris, as he believes her claim of having worked there as a summer employee in the early 1980s is a lie. Now, Trump’s campaign team and the Republican National Committee have launched a limited-edition merchandise commemorating Trump’s “job”: the “MAGADonald’s” T-shirt. Supporters can purchase a white T-shirt featuring Trump wearing an apron and waving from the McDonald’s counter, with the slogan “MAGADonald’s” in McDonald’s classic red and yellow branding colors. Observant consumers can also spot Trump’s signature hairstyle above the letter “D” in the slogan. This so-called gift is not free; the website suggests a donation of $100 in exchange for the T-shirt: “I am the first and only presidential candidate in 2024 to work at McDonald’s,” the email states, “but thanks to Kamala, the price of a meal has skyrocketed!” This commemorative item joins Trump’s online store, which also features a $55 MAGA baseball cap and a pair of $499 gold “Fight, Fight, Fight” sneakers.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Harris never worked at the fast-food chain, but he has not provided any evidence. It is reported that Trump’s campaign team has spent $31,000 at McDonald’s over the past 18 months. On that day, Trump also stated that he would cover the costs of all food for supporters: “This is on Trump… It’s all paid for by Trump. Can I do that?” It remains unclear whether he actually paid.
Now, McDonald’s, feeling anxious, has acknowledged that it has become a focal point of discussion in the 2024 presidential election. Since Trump claimed that Harris’s assertion of having worked at McDonald’s during college was a lie, McDonald’s has consistently made headlines. The fast-food chain clarified its stance on supporting presidential candidates: “McDonald’s does not support any candidates running for public office, and this remains true in this presidential election,” the company informed employees in an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press. “We support neither red nor blue—we are gold.”
Most McDonald’s restaurants are operated by independent owners, allowing them the discretion to invite political candidates to visit. However, they must still adhere to certain guidelines from the corporate parent company. The Associated Press reported that Harris and her running mate, Walz, were also invited to visit a McDonald’s restaurant.
During the campaign, Harris stated that she had worked at McDonald’s for one summer during the summer breaks between her freshman and sophomore years at Howard University. Trump has consistently maintained that Harris never worked at McDonald’s. McDonald’s issued a diplomatic statement attempting to avoid getting drawn into the controversy. “While we are not a political brand, we are happy to hear former President Trump’s love for McDonald’s and Kamala Harris’s fond memories of working there,” the statement read. “While we and our franchisees do not keep records of all positions from the early 1980s, the story of ‘1 in 8 people’ is widely circulated because many Americans have had similar experiences.”