October 20th 2024.
On Sunday, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made a stop at a McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania. This visit came as part of his continued criticism of Democrat Kamala Harris, where he has made the claim, without evidence, that she did not actually work at the fast-food chain during her college years.
Feasterville-Trevose is located in Bucks County, an important swing area in the state. Trump's visit to the McDonald's was a part of his busy day, which also included an evening town hall in Lancaster and attending a Pittsburgh Steelers home game. The owner of the McDonald's, Derek Giacomantonio, released a statement saying that it is their fundamental value to welcome everyone in the community, which is why they accepted Trump's request to experience working at McDonald's, a job that 1 in 8 Americans have had.
As Trump stepped off his plane, he told reporters that he was going to work a shift at McDonald's and added that it was something he had always wanted to do. This visit comes after Trump has been fixated on Harris' summer job at McDonald's, where she worked as a fry cook while attending Howard University. Trump has continuously questioned her credentials and spread conspiracy theories about her.
The streets around the McDonald's were closed off by the police, as a large crowd gathered, eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of Trump. Supporters waved flags, held signs, and took pictures as they honked their horns and blasted music. Meanwhile, Harris' campaign spokesperson, Ian Sams, responded to Trump's claims by saying that when the president feels desperate, all he knows how to do is lie. He also pointed out that Trump cannot understand the struggles of working-class Americans, as he was handed millions of dollars on a silver platter.
In an interview last month, Harris pushed back on Trump's claims and stated that she did, in fact, work at McDonald's while she was a student. She also highlighted the difference between her and her opponent's perspectives on the needs of the American people and their responsibility to meet those needs.
Trump's senior campaign adviser, Jason Miller, told reporters that the reason for the McDonald's visit was so that one candidate in the race could say that they have actually worked at the fast-food chain. He also claimed that by the end of the day, Trump would have spent more time working at McDonald's than Harris ever has. Harris' campaign did not immediately respond to Trump's plans to work at the restaurant.
Representatives for McDonald's did not have records of employment from 40 years ago, which raises questions about the validity of Trump's claims. This is not the first time that Trump has promoted false and baseless claims, with the most notable being his insistence that he lost the 2020 election due to voter fraud.
Throughout his political career, Trump has a history of attacking opponents based on their personal backgrounds, particularly targeting women and racial minorities. He was a leading voice in the "birther" conspiracy that falsely claimed former President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. He also spread false claims about Texas Senator Ted Cruz's father having ties to the JFK assassination and shared a post claiming that Nikki Haley was ineligible to run for president due to her parents' citizenship status.
Some Republican strategists view Trump's focus on Harris' past employment at McDonald's as a puzzling detour from more important issues, such as the economy and immigration. They believe that Trump is willing to throw anything at the wall to see what sticks, but ultimately, this will not sway any undecided voters. It is clear that Trump's tactics of spreading baseless claims and attacking opponents' personal backgrounds do not resonate with the American people.
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