The U.S. presidential election takes place in about two weeks, and former President Donald Trump, who is the Republican Party nominee, is pulling out all the stops.
He recently made a bold attempt to try to convince voters that he can relate to the working class by working at McDonald’s (MCD) for roughly 30 minutes while taking a dig at his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has accused Harris of lying about having worked at the fast-food chain while she was in college.
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During the former president’s Oct. 20 visit to a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, a swing state, he was filmed making french fries and serving orders to drive-thru customers.
Shortly after the video went viral on social media, which sparked controversy, McDonald’s decided to make a bold clarification to its employees in an internal memo about its stance in the upcoming presidential election.
In the memo, the fast-food giant emphasized its neutrality, stating that it is neither “red or blue.”
“As we’ve seen, our brand has been a fixture of conversation this election cycle,” reads the memo. “While we’ve not sought this, it’s 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. We are not red or blue – we are golden.”
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The company also claimed that when the owner/operator of the franchise in Pennsylvania was approached by law enforcement about Trump’s desire to pay a visit to the restaurant, it leaned on its “core values,” which involves opening its doors to “everyone.”
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“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,” reads the memo. “It’s with that same approach that franchisees have invited Vice President Harris and Governor Walz to their restaurants, in order to share how McDonald’s provides meaningful pathways to economic opportunity and feeds and fosters local communities.”
Social media is divided on Trump's McDonald's visit
Trump’s visit to the Golden Arches garnered mixed reactions on social media. Some consumers praised the effort, while others called for a boycott of Mcdonald's, claiming that the restaurant chain “staged” the event.
@McDonalds I realize you operate on a franchise model but the owner/operator of the McDonalds that opted to close to stage an event for Trump just cost you a lot of business for the near future, mine included. #McDonaldTrump #Boycott
— Cherie Boeneman (@crbones) October 21, 2024
@McDonalds high prices, usually awful service and the almost ubiquitous presence of Fox News playing in their stores make me boycott them for the most part, but playacting with Trump sure adds a cherry to the top of that crapcake.
— Larry Ausley 🟧 🐈⬛🥥🌴 (@trianglekayak) October 22, 2024
The last thing McDonald’s needs is a boycott on its hands. In the company’s second-quarter earnings report for 2024, it revealed that its U.S. comparable sales decreased by 0.7% year-over-year during the quarter, which was mainly due to weakening foot traffic in its stores.
It also stated that its operating income, which is a company's profit after expenses, declined by about 6%, compared to the same time period last year.
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