OPINION: Just put the fries in the bag, Trump

Photo via:  Sgt. Dana M Clarke/Public domain/Wikimedia Commons (Altered by: TNP Staff)

Ava Jelepis, a Freshman double majoring in Journalism and Political Science, argues that former president and candidate for president, Donald Trump’s, visit to a local McDonald’s in Pennsylvania mocks the working class rather than supports them.

As Election Day nears, both major presidential candidates have a limited amount of time to secure all the votes they can, especially those from battleground states. Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania, one of those battleground states, on Saturday. But on Sunday, he traded in his suit for an apron and could be spotted not on a stage, but rather in the drive-thru window of a McDonald’s in Feasterville, PA.

In photos and videos, Trump can be seen during his half-hour shift at the french fry station, frying and serving fries to pre-selected Trump supporters. However, the restaurant was closed to the rest of the public during his visit. Trump aimed to send a message with his working-class cosplay. That message was, “I'm one of you.” 

Despite being “one of us,” Trump reportedly dodged a question at the McDonald’s stunt, asking if he supported raising the minimum wage, a change that would positively affect the lives of workers across America, including his McDonald's ‘co-workers.’ 

Trump’s working-class simulation was also a jab at Vice President Kamala Harris, who said she worked at McDonald’s while in college. Trump has continuously voiced his claims that she is lying about this, and he didn’t waste any time bringing it to light on Sunday, saying, "I've now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala." 

Harris’ spokesperson, Ian Sams, responded to Trump’s claims that she had never worked there, "When Trump feels desperate, all he knows how to do is lie. 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." This further demonstrates how out of touch he is with this shared experience, with 1 in 8 Americans working at McDonald’s at some point in their lives.

Despite Trump’s attempts to be relatable, it has become apparent that many people aren't exactly “lovin’ it,” and Trump has received a lot of backlash from this stunt. 

Many people have taken to the internet to express their distaste for the stunt. Some comments posted online include, “‘Working’ is a weird way of saying, ‘Stood around playing dress up while projecting nonsense to the press,’” and “Great, so he passed out bags of food for five minutes for a photo op…now let’s see him actually take on the responsibility of a full shift every day for a few years. This is cosplay and insulting to people who have actually worked any amount of time in their lives.”

Trump is not the only one receiving backlash for his appearance; McDonald’s as a company is also taking a hit. Yelp had to disable the ability to post reviews on the McDonald's in Feasterville after a surplus of one-star reviews and comments, such as, “The fries were too salty as if someone who lost a major election had been crying over them for an hour.” 

Trump’s appearance also sparked an upsurge in the Google search for “boycott McDonald’s.” In response, the company said, “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." The location’s owner, Derek Giacomantonio, added that “it is a fundamental value of my organization that we proudly open our doors to everyone who visits the Feasterville community.”

When all is said and done, Trump ‘working’ for 30 minutes at McDonald’s and then bragging about the fries he made does not change who he is. Donald Trump’s attempt to empathize with the working class is just flat-out condescending toward the people who rely on jobs, such as working at McDonald's, to make a living. After his 30-minute shift, Trump goes home to his billions of dollars; I can not say the same for other Americans who work minimum wage jobs.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.