In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump is leveraging the iconic American fast-food chain McDonald’s to draw attention to his political campaign as he approaches the final days of his third bid for the White House. Trump is scheduled to visit a McDonald’s franchise in Pennsylvania, where he plans to don a fry cook’s hat and work as a fry attendant, according to reports. This event is particularly notable as it parallels a claim made by Vice President Kamala Harris about her own early work experience at a McDonald’s location.
Harris has highlighted her time at McDonald’s in Alameda, California, as a significant part of her middle-class origin story, which she frequently shares with voters. This detail has become a central theme in her campaign narrative as she positions herself as a relatable candidate for the Democratic Party. Trump, who has long expressed a fondness for McDonald’s, appears to be using this connection to question Harris’ credibility regarding her work history. During a rally in the Pittsburgh area, Trump remarked, “I’m going to McDonald’s to work the french fry,” underscoring his intention to challenge Harris’s claims.
The former president’s fixation on Harris’s McDonald’s employment has manifested in his campaign appearances and interviews, where he has accused her of fabricating her work history. Harris has remained mostly silent on Trump’s comments and allegations, choosing not to respond to inquiries regarding her past at the fast-food chain. However, a campaign official confirmed that Harris worked at McDonald’s during the summer of 1983 while she was a student at Howard University, where she operated the cash register and managed fry and ice cream machines.
Trump’s public statements have drawn significant attention, especially considering his penchant for questioning the biographies of political rivals. He has previously propagated baseless conspiracy theories about other politicians, including the false “birther” claims against former President Barack Obama and dubious assertions regarding Senator Ted Cruz’s father’s alleged involvement in President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. This election cycle, he has also made unfounded claims about other candidates, including former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Vice President Harris.
Despite Trump’s critical stance on Harris’s past, he has himself faced scrutiny for exaggerating his own life story. The former president famously coined the term “truthful hyperbole” in his 1987 autobiography, The Art of the Deal, describing it as an “innocent form of exaggeration” that serves as effective promotion. His history of embellishments has been documented, including a 2007 deposition where he was caught lying on multiple occasions about mundane facts related to his business dealings.
As Trump prepares for his upcoming visit to McDonald’s, he has not provided a clear rationale for fixating on Harris’s employment there. However, he has suggested that the truth behind Harris’s work history should not be overlooked. “We would say, well, that’s not a big lie. It’s a huge lie,” he declared, implying that McDonald’s was a pivotal part of her narrative.
Trump’s affinity for fast food is well-known, and he has previously visited a McDonald’s during his presidential campaign. In one instance, he stopped at a location in East Palestine, Ohio, following a train derailment that caused an environmental crisis. At that visit, he boasted about his knowledge of the McDonald’s menu, claiming, “I know this menu better than you do.” This familiarity with fast food has become a recurring theme in his public persona.
During his time in the White House, Trump’s love for McDonald’s was evident, as he famously served Clemson University’s national championship football team a banquet of burgers and pizza. His son-in-law Jared Kushner even remarked in his autobiography that Trump’s request for his favorite McDonald’s meal was a sign that he was recovering from COVID-19. Trump’s go-to order included a Big Mac, a Filet-O-Fish, fries, and a vanilla shake.
In the wake of Trump’s upcoming McDonald’s visit, his son Donald Trump Jr. criticized media coverage of Kamala Harris, arguing that she should have been questioned about her McDonald’s experience during interviews. He asserted that his father’s familiarity with the chain surpassed that of the vice president. “I think my father knows the McDonald’s menu much better than Kamala Harris ever did,” Trump Jr. stated, further emphasizing the competitive narrative that Trump is constructing around his rival.
As the election nears, Trump’s visit to McDonald’s highlights the increasingly intertwined nature of politics and cultural touchstones in the United States. By focusing on a beloved brand like McDonald’s, Trump aims to resonate with working-class voters while simultaneously undermining Harris’s image. This unique campaign strategy not only reinforces his personal brand but also signals the ongoing political battle that unfolds through familiar symbols of American life. The upcoming visit promises to be a moment that could further shape the narrative as both candidates continue to vie for voter support ahead of Election Day.
