McDonaldâs Corp. agreed to host former U.S. president Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania store over the weekend but said it isnât endorsing a candidate in the U.S. presidential race.
Trump staffed the fry station at a McDonaldâs in suburban Philadelphia on Sunday before answering questions through the drive-thru window. The restaurant was closed to the public for the Republican nominee's visit.
In a message to employees obtained Monday by The Associated Press, McDonald's said the owner-operator of the location, Derek Giacomantonio reached out after he learned of Trumpâs desire to visit a Pennsylvania restaurant. McDonaldâs agreed to the event.
âUpon learning of the former presidentâs request, we approached it through the lens of one of our core values: we open our doors to everyone,â the company said. âMcDonaldâs does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next president. We are not red or blue â we are golden."
The Chicago burger giant said franchisees have also invited U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, to their restaurants. The Associated Press left a message seeking comment with the Harris campaign.
McDonaldâs said it has âbeen a fixture of conversation this election cycleâ even though it hasnât sought that attention. At several campaign stops and during interviews, Harris has recalled working at McDonaldâs for spending money during her college years. Trump has claimed â without evidence â that Harris is lying.
McDonaldâs sidestepped that issue in its employee message. The company said it is proud of âHarrisâs fond memories working under the archesâ and noted the often-cited figure that 1 in 8 Americans works at McDonaldâs at some point.
âWhile we and our franchisees donât have records for all positions dating back to the early â80s, what makes â1 in 8â so powerful is the shared experience so many Americans have had,â McDonaldâs said.
Trumpâs appearance led to some backlash on social media. Google searches for âboycott McDonaldâsâ briefly surged Monday morning, and some Twitter users vowed not to return to the chain after Trumpâs event.
But Lori Rosen, president of the public relations firm Rosen Group, said McDonaldâs wonât likely see long-term damage from the event.
âThe coverage and publicity alone generated from McDonaldâs agreeing to have former President Trump work at one of their franchises already surpasses the negative chatter on social media ,â Rosen said. âI am not sure if the American people will benefit from this publicity stunt. However, McDonaldâs comes out ahead.â
Bruce Newman, a professor in business ethics and marketing at DePaul Universityâs Driehaus College of Business, agrees.
âThey look like the company thatâs getting the attention of the presidential candidates, and it heightens the awareness of the brand,â he said.
Newman added that Trump was likely trying to put a different, more casual face on his campaign, wearing a smile and an apron instead of a suit jacket.