McDonald’s clarifies policy after Trump visit

Fast food giant McDonald’s has denied taking sides in the US presidential race following Republican candidate Donald Trump’s recent visit to one of its locations, according to media reports on Monday.

Trump stopped at the chain’s restaurant in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. The former US president put on an apron and cooked French fries, also handing customers their food through the drive-thru window.

McDonald’s said in an internal message to workers that it “does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next president.” 

“We are not red or blue – we are golden,” the message said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

The company further claimed that it did not invite Trump, but described his visit as proof of the company remaining a key part of everyday American life.

“As we’ve seen, our brand has been a fixture of conversation in this election cycle. While we’ve not sought this, it’s a testament to how much McDonald’s resonates with so many Americans,” it wrote, adding “though we are not a political brand, we’ve been proud to hear former President Trump’s love for McDonald’s and Vice President Harris’s fond memories working under the Arches.” 

In its statement, McDonald’s also clarified that local franchisee Derek Giacomantonio got a request from law enforcement about Trump’s “desire to visit a Pennsylvania restaurant.”

“We proudly open our doors to everyone who visits the Feasterville community,” Giacomantonio said. “That’s why I accepted former President Trump’s request to observe the transformative working experience that 1 in 8 Americans have had: a job at McDonald’s.”

More than 95% of all McDonald’s US locations are operated by franchise operators, who have to abide by certain guidelines in their agreements with the parent company, but are free to invite political candidates.

A well-known fan of fast-food chain, Trump on Sunday used the visit as an opportunity to mock his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. The latter has said during her campaign that she once worked at the chain when she was in college.

“I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala,” Trump told reporters, repeating his assertion that Harris “never worked at McDonald’s.”