McDonald’s corporate office responded to former President Donald Trump’s stop at a Pennsylvania location of the fast-food giant, where he worked behind the counter and used the fryer.
In an email to employees that was seen by The Epoch Times, the company said that its “brand has been a fixture of conversation this election cycle” and that “we’ve not sought this” but is a “testament to how much McDonald’s resonates with so many Americans.”
“McDonald’s does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next President,” McDonald’s said in the statement, dated Oct. 21. “We are not red or blue—we are golden.”
The company said that Trump’s visit to a Pennsylvania McDonald’s location was handled locally by a franchise operator.
“Upon learning of the former President’s request, we approached it through the lens of one of our core values: we open our doors to everyone,” the company said.
Other McDonald’s franchisees have similarly invited Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her running mate, “to their restaurants, in order to share how McDonald’s provides meaningful pathways to economic opportunity and feeds and fosters local communities,” the statement said.
The Epoch Times contacted the Harris campaign for comment. It’s not clear whether either Harris or Walz are planning to visit a McDonald’s as part of a campaign stop.
In its message to employees, McDonald’s said it is proud of “Harris’s fond memories working under the arches” and noted the often-cited figure that 1 in 8 Americans worked at McDonald’s at some point.
“While we and our franchisees don’t have records for all positions dating back to the early ‘80s, what makes ‘1 in 8’ so powerful is the shared experience so many Americans have had,” the fast-food giant said.
The company concluded its email by thanking workers for “serving our customers” and “for upholding our great values and opening our doors for all.”
On Sunday, Trump donned a McDonald’s apron and worked at a drive-thru and fryer for a short time at a location in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, after he alleged that Harris did not ever work at the fast-food chain, as she previously said. As he was handing out orders at the drive-through window, Trump said that he worked “15 minutes more” than Harris.
His campaign has capitalized on the appearance, which was quickly turned into memes that saw significant engagement on social media this week.
“I am the first and only 2024 presidential nominee to work at McDonald’s,” the campaign website says. “I will Make America Affordable Again, but I’m going to need your help to do it.”
On his fundraising website, Trump also suggested high inflation in recent years is due to policies under the Biden-Harris administration.
Harris’s campaign has been critical of Trump’s McDonald’s appearance.
He said that Harris “has actually worked at McDonald’s, joined workers on picket lines, and fights for working people.”
Trump’s appearance at the McDonald’s comes as both he and Harris have picked up the pace for campaign and media appearances in recent days, with just about two weeks to go before the Nov. 5 presidential election.
