FEASTERVILLE, Pa. — In a campaign stop that turned heads and taste buds, former President Donald Trump took on a new role: McDonald’s fry server. On Sunday, at a McDonald’s franchise in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, Trump traded his usual political rhetoric for a spatula, serving up french fries and a side of political jabs aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris.
The unusual campaign event, held just weeks before Election Day in the crucial battleground state, saw the fast-food restaurant temporarily closed to the public. Instead, a select group of customers, pre-chosen by the franchise and the local Trump campaign team, were treated to a unique drive-thru experience. Security was tight, with cars screened, searched, and occupants wanded down, highlighting the significance of the event.
Donald Trump inside of a McDonald
This campaign stop was strategically designed to counter Harris, who has previously spoken about her experience working at McDonald’s as a young woman. Trump has repeatedly, and without evidence, accused Harris of fabricating this experience to bolster her working-class image.
Trump Revives Claims About Harris’s McDonald’s Past
During his appearance at the Feasterville McDonald’s, Trump reiterated his unsubstantiated claims about Vice President Harris and her past employment. “It was a big part of her resume that she worked at McDonald’s — how tough a job it was,” Trump stated, mocking Harris’s recollections. “She … made the french fries, and she talked about the heat: ‘It was so tough.’ She’s never worked at McDonald’s.”
In response to Trump’s remarks, Harris spokesperson Ian Sams issued a statement to NBC News, dismissing Trump’s accusations. “When Trump feels desperate, all he knows how to do is lie,” Sams said. “He can’t understand what it’s like to have a summer job because he was handed millions on a silver platter, only to blow it.”
Harris’s campaign maintains that she indeed worked at a McDonald’s in Alameda, California, during the summer of 1983, while a student at Howard University. Her roles included working the register, operating the french fry machine, and managing the ice cream machine, painting a picture of genuine fast-food work experience.
Inside Trump’s McDonald’s Shift: Aprons and Fryers
Donald Trump inside of a McDonald
The owner and operator of the Feasterville location, Derek Giacomantonio, explained his decision to host the Trump campaign event, stating, “it is a fundamental value of my organization that we proudly open our doors to everyone who visits the Feasterville community.”
Trump’s affinity for fast food is well-known, famously serving a fast-food buffet of McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Domino’s pizza to the Clemson Tigers at the White House in 2019.
During his half-hour stint at the McDonald’s, Trump swapped his suit jacket for a McDonald’s apron and received a quick lesson from a fry cook. He then took over the fryer, dropping batches of potatoes into the hot oil. While mostly following instructions, he reportedly missed draining the oil from one batch completely and was perhaps a bit heavy-handed with the salt, showcasing his hands-on approach to fry preparation.
Trump was visibly impressed by the fry packaging process, particularly the scooper-like device used to fill the iconic red cartons. “Never touched by a human hand,” he remarked, emphasizing the “nice and clean” nature of the operation.
Drive-Thru Diplomacy and Minimum Wage Questions
Donald Trump works the drive-through line as he visits a McDonald
Moving to the drive-thru window, Trump took orders and chatted with customers as they drove through. “This is not a normal situation, is it?” he joked, before announcing to the delighted customers that their meals were on him. “There will be no charge,” he declared. “Trump is paying for it. … This is all on Trump, am I allowed to do that?”
Several customers expressed their support for Trump, shouting his “Make America Great Again” slogan as they collected their complimentary McDonald’s. Trump seemed to enjoy the experience, commenting, “I wouldn’t mind this job,” and “I like this job. I would come back and do it again.”
When questioned by reporters, Trump dodged a direct answer on whether the federal minimum wage should be increased. He instead focused on an employee filling fry bags, playfully commenting, “Oh, you’re very stingy with the product,” and praising her work ethic.
Towards the end of his McDonald’s appearance, Trump was informed that it was Harris’s 60th birthday. His response was somewhat unexpected: “I think I’ll get her some flowers,” he said, adding with a touch of irony, “Maybe I’ll get her some fries.”
This campaign stop provided a blend of political theater and fast-food service, leaving a memorable impression in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, as the election approaches.
