Juliann Ventura
Tue, October 22, 2024
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) slammed former President Trump for his recent visit to a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, suggesting the photo op was just an attempt at “connecting” with voters.
“You’ve got Donald Trump putting on a little McDonald’s costume because he thinks that’s what people do,” Ocasio-Cortez told a crowd of people Monday during an event with the United Auto Workers (UAW).
“They’re not trying to empathize with us. They are making fun of us,” she added. “Donald Trump thinks that people who work at McDonald’s are a joke.”
Trump visited the fast-food chain in Bucks County, Pa., on Sunday, donning an apron and working the drive-thru and the french fry station.
The New York Democrat also knocked tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk for pledging to give away $1 million per day to voters for signing his PAC’s petition backing the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, and the Second Amendment, with its right “to keep and bear arms.”
“We see Elon Musk coming in here. He’s doing these little contests where he’s promising people a million dollars in some kind of lottery giveaway if they sign up for his list,” she said, “You have a billionaire just dangling a million bucks to those of us and many of us who are struggling to make ends meet if they dance for him.”
Ocasio-Cortez added that Musk “thinks that dangling money in front of a working person is a cute thing to do.”
She continued in her appeal to working-class voters, arguing that Trump and Musk “have no idea what our lives are like.”
“They think this callousness is a way of connecting,” she said at the UAW event. “It’s not a way of connecting, because you and I both know that when that camera turns [off] and they turn around and go into their car, they’re laughing at us; they think we are the suckers.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, also accused the former president of disrespecting McDonald’s workers during the campaign stop — which was largely seen as an attack on Vice President Harris, who has described her time working at the restaurant during college.
The Trump campaign has sought to capitalize on the visit, selling T-shirts with a photo of the former president working in the drive-thru.
McDonald’s, in the wake of the event, emphasized its political neutrality.
The Hill has contacted the Trump campaign and Tesla for Elon Musk for comment.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
McDonald’s Is Suffering After Trump’s Weird Staged Photo-Op Visit
Paige Oamek
Wed, October 23, 2024
McDonald’s share price just hit its lowest point since Covid. It might not be completely Donald Trump’s fault—but we can’t say that he helped at all.
After Trump’s desperate stunt at the fast-food franchise on Sunday afternoon, McDonald’s suffered a double blow to the golden arches brand. On Tuesday, news broke that an E. coli outbreak related to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders is spreading in multiple states (notably not yet in Pennsylvania, where Trump held his staged photo op).
One person has died from the outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and hospitalizations have been reported across 10 states.
In response to the double whammy, McDonald’s stock, which began dropping the day after Trump’s visit, is down 19 percent on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Trump Media stock continues to fluctuate and even surge, despite the company appearing to fall apart at the seams after hitting a new low last month. Experts say that the share price is less of a measure of the health of the business, which again is not good, and more “a barometer for both Trump and Trump’s followers,” Kristi Marvin, a former investment banker, told The New York Times. “This stock has never traded on fundamentals.”
Trump’s media company continues to lose tens of millions each quarter, and senior management are dropping like flies, despite the stock fluctuations. For a comparison to demonstrate just how much of a failure Trump’s company is, let’s put it into perspective: Trump Media’s quarterly revenue is less than that of a single McDonald’s franchise.
While McDonald’s stock will probably rebound, if investors can begin to see clearly, Trump’s businesses may not be so lucky.
Paige Oamek
Wed, October 23, 2024
McDonald’s share price just hit its lowest point since Covid. It might not be completely Donald Trump’s fault—but we can’t say that he helped at all.
After Trump’s desperate stunt at the fast-food franchise on Sunday afternoon, McDonald’s suffered a double blow to the golden arches brand. On Tuesday, news broke that an E. coli outbreak related to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders is spreading in multiple states (notably not yet in Pennsylvania, where Trump held his staged photo op).
One person has died from the outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and hospitalizations have been reported across 10 states.
In response to the double whammy, McDonald’s stock, which began dropping the day after Trump’s visit, is down 19 percent on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Trump Media stock continues to fluctuate and even surge, despite the company appearing to fall apart at the seams after hitting a new low last month. Experts say that the share price is less of a measure of the health of the business, which again is not good, and more “a barometer for both Trump and Trump’s followers,” Kristi Marvin, a former investment banker, told The New York Times. “This stock has never traded on fundamentals.”
Trump’s media company continues to lose tens of millions each quarter, and senior management are dropping like flies, despite the stock fluctuations. For a comparison to demonstrate just how much of a failure Trump’s company is, let’s put it into perspective: Trump Media’s quarterly revenue is less than that of a single McDonald’s franchise.
While McDonald’s stock will probably rebound, if investors can begin to see clearly, Trump’s businesses may not be so lucky.
Trump cashes in on McDonald’s stunt with new ‘MAGADonald’s’ merch
James Liddell
Tue, October 22, 2024 at 4:29 AM MDT·3 min read
Donald Trump has sought to cash in on his McDonald’s stunt by releasing a new, limited edition line of “MAGADonald’s” merchandise.
The former president attempted to troll Kamala Harris by manning a fryer at a drive-thru in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, on Sunday as he continues to claim the vice president is lying about working at the fast food chain as a summer job in the early 1980s.
And now, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have rolled out a new, limited edition piece of apparel to commemorate the day: a MAGADonald’s T-shirt.
“True Trump patriots” can purchase the white top brandished with Trump donning an apron and waving from the McDonald’s drive-thru window, featuring the “MAGADonald’s” slogan in the fast food giant’s red and gold brand colors.
The eagle-eyed shoppers can also spot Trump’s quiff sitting atop the slogan’s “D.”
“I HAVE A McGIFT FOR YOU!,” read a fundraising email, with the same slogan splashed across the top of the fundraising website. The so-called gift, however, is not free, with the website suggesting a donation of $100 in exchange for the T-shirt.
“I am the first and only 2024 presidential nominee to work at McDonald’s,” it continues. “But thanks to Kamala, prices for a meal are through the roof!”
The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee were quick to try and earn a buck from the former president’s McDonald’s visit (Trump campaign/Republican National Committee)
The merch adds to the Republican presidential candidate’s online store offering already consisting of $55 Make America Great Again baseball caps and a $499 pair of golden “fight, fight, fight” sneakers.
McDonald’s has attempted to distance itself from the Trump campaign and said in a statement that it does not endorse candidates for elected office following his visit.
The former president, without evidence, has repeatedly claimed that Harris has never worked at the fast food restaurant.
On October 10, Trump told rallygoers in Reno, Nevada, that he would make a pit stop at the Golden Arches.
Trump uses fryer next to an employee during his visit to McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose on Sunday (AP)
Instead of ordering his one-time 2,400kcal order of choice – two Big Macs, two Fillet-O-Fish, and a chocolate milkshake – the former president declared he was “going to a McDonald’s to work”.
The McDonald’s loyalist, whose campaign allegedly spent $31,000 at the fast food chain in the last 18 months, also claimed his minutes-long stint would mean he’d “have worked longer and harder at McDonald’s” than Harris.
On Sunday afternoon, Trump spent just minutes donning an apron and serving up fries during a roughly hour-long photoshoot.
“I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala,” Trump told reporters, throwing a jab at Harris.
Trump also declared that he would cover the cost of all food served to supporters: “Trump is paying for it… This is all on Trump, am I allowed to do that?”
The former president added that he enjoyed his mini-shift and would consider coming back and doing it again.
View comments (94)
Here's What We Know About Trump's 'Shift' at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania and Claims It Was 'Staged'
Aleksandra Wrona
Tue, October 22, 2024
Reddit u/Lifegoesonforever, C-SPAN
Former U.S. President Donald Trump spent about 15 minutes scooping French fries into containers and handing them to drive-thru "customers" at a McDonald's restaurant in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20, 2024, in a publicity stunt arranged by his presidential campaign.
"I worked 15 minutes longer than Kamala Harris ever did," Trump told reporters after the photo op, doubling down on his claims that the vice president lied when she said she worked at a McDonald's in her youth.
When video of Trump's 15-minute stint as a fast-food worker was released, social media platforms erupted with partisan posts claiming it was was "fake," "staged" and merely a "stunt."
It's crucial to note that photo ops and publicity stunts are always, by definition, staged. That said, here are examples of some of the online comments about Trump's McDonald's outing:
"You mean to tell me this was all staged, and that these 'customers' rehearsed in advance to make it seem like a genuine interaction and that the McDonald's was actually closed to the public!" one X post read. Another X post, with more than 1.7 million views, stated: "Who else was NOT surprised to learn that Trump's event at a closed McDonald's was totally staged and as fraudulent as he is?"
The News Media on Trump's 'Shift' At McDonald's
Multiple reliable news outlets, such as The Associated Press, Reuters and the BBC, reported on Trump's visit to the fast-food restaurant. The New York Times rightly called it a "campaign photo op," reporting that Trump handed food to preselected customers.
C-SPAN recorded the visit, stating Trump "worked a 30-minute shift. … He first met with the owner and received a uniform and name tag, and then learned how to make and package french fries before serving some drive-thru customers and answering questions from the press."
You can see the footage of Trump's visit below:
Trump's involvement was limited to a short interaction with staff and customers, learning how to make and package French fries, and serving a few drive-thru customers, rather than a normal employee's full workday involving numerous tasks.
Was the Location Closed?
The primary argument circulating on social media accusing the event of being staged was centered around a printed notice supposedly displayed at the restaurant, stating it was closed. A photograph of the notice was shared on platforms including X, Threads, Facebook and Reddit. "So the place wasn't even open. It was all staged and fake. He didn't work for real at a McDonalds. It was a staged fraud just like every other event," one X user captioned it.
The Washington Post and Philadelphia TV station WCAU also reported the restaurant was closed to the public during Trump's visit.
The text on the notice read:
Dear Feasterville Community,
We plan to be closed on Sunday, October 20 until 4 p.m., to accommodate a visit at the request of former President Trump and his campaign.
While we are not a political organization, we proudly open our doors to everyone and as a locally owned and operated location, this visit provides a unique opportunity to shine a light on the positive impact of small businesses here in Feasterville. We're equally honored to share the significance of what 1 in 8 Americans have experienced: that a job at McDonald's is more than just a job. It's a pathway to critical skills development and meaningful career opportunities. Having started my McDonald's joumey as a crew member in New York nearly 30 years ago. This path to economic opportunity is especially meaningful to me.
I apologize for the inconvenience of closing our restaurant and sincerely look forward to serving you very soon.
Derek Giacomantonio and my team at Feasterville McDonald's
Giacomantonio was shown in the C-SPAN video as an owner of the restaurant.
We have reached out to McDonald's and Giacomantonio to confirm the notice's authenticity.
Photos From the Event
Apart from the printed notice, social media users shared other photographs from the event along with their claims the event was fake. "It was all STAGED!! Trump did not work. McDonald's closed for the day & there was a car rehearsal," one Reddit user wrote. One X post claimed that customers were "handpicked," while another alleged the customers were "pre-selected supporters of his campaign who had practiced how to use the drive-through."
WCAU reported that "it was not immediately clear how the drive-through customers served by Trump were selected." According to The Washington Post, "the motorists whom Trump served were screened by the U.S. Secret Service and positioned before his arrival. No one ordered food. Instead, the attendees received whatever Trump gave them."
These photographs were initially shared by local journalist Tom Sofield, who captioned them with: "Cars rehearsing ahead of former Pres. Trump, who is expected to be serving supporters McDonald's food" and "The supporters who will be served food by Trump are in place and screened by USSS."
(X user @BuxMontNews)
"The fact that you present this like it's some big shock makes me wonder who ties your shoes for you. The USSS didn't let a bunch of random people in their personal vehicles drive up to a drive-thru window with a former President and Presidential candidate," one X user commented, pointing to the fact that screening people in high-security situations is a standard practice.
Sofield confirmed to Snopes that he took the pictures. He said the "rehearsals" involved staging the cars in line and brief conversations with campaign staff, adding that the people in the vehicles waited about an hour or an hour and a half before Trump arrived and handed out food.
We also reached out to Trump's campaign, which did not respond to questions about whether there were rehearsals, how customers were chosen and screened, or whether the notice about the store's closure was real, instead repeating the line that "President Trump has now worked at McDonald's longer than Kamala Harris ever did."
Additionally, we reached out to the Secret Service for comment about how the customers were selected and whether they were screened by the agency, and we will update this report if we receive a response.
Sources:
Contact. https://www.secretservice.gov/contact. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
Contact Information | McDonald's Corporation. https://www.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/contact.html. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
Former President Trump Works at McDonald's in Bucks County, PA | C-SPAN.Org. https://www.c-span.org/video/?539376-1/president-trump-works-mcdonalds-bucks-county-pa. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
Gold, Michael. "Trump Slings McDonald's Fries as He Smears Harris in Pennsylvania." The New York Times, 20 Oct. 2024. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/20/us/politics/trump-mcdonalds-fries.html.
Shalal, Andrea, and Steve Holland. "Trump Hands out French Fries, Harris Visits Georgia Churches." Reuters, 21 Oct. 2024. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-mark-60th-birthday-with-atlanta-church-visits-trump-hits-mcdonalds-2024-10-20/.
"Tom Sofield, Author at LevittownNow.Com." LevittownNow.Com, 21 Oct. 2024, https://levittownnow.com/author/tomsofield/.
Trump Serves up McDonald's Fries and Harris Celebrates Birthday. https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cgryevjjlx2o. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
"Trump Works the Fry Station and Holds a Drive-Thru News Conference at a Pennsylvania McDonald's." AP News, 20 Oct. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-mcdonalds-2024-presidential-election-pennsylvania-73e55c8c1db4adc2a547b62bd5142be3.
James Liddell
Tue, October 22, 2024 at 4:29 AM MDT·3 min read
Donald Trump has sought to cash in on his McDonald’s stunt by releasing a new, limited edition line of “MAGADonald’s” merchandise.
The former president attempted to troll Kamala Harris by manning a fryer at a drive-thru in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, on Sunday as he continues to claim the vice president is lying about working at the fast food chain as a summer job in the early 1980s.
And now, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have rolled out a new, limited edition piece of apparel to commemorate the day: a MAGADonald’s T-shirt.
“True Trump patriots” can purchase the white top brandished with Trump donning an apron and waving from the McDonald’s drive-thru window, featuring the “MAGADonald’s” slogan in the fast food giant’s red and gold brand colors.
The eagle-eyed shoppers can also spot Trump’s quiff sitting atop the slogan’s “D.”
“I HAVE A McGIFT FOR YOU!,” read a fundraising email, with the same slogan splashed across the top of the fundraising website. The so-called gift, however, is not free, with the website suggesting a donation of $100 in exchange for the T-shirt.
“I am the first and only 2024 presidential nominee to work at McDonald’s,” it continues. “But thanks to Kamala, prices for a meal are through the roof!”
The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee were quick to try and earn a buck from the former president’s McDonald’s visit (Trump campaign/Republican National Committee)
The merch adds to the Republican presidential candidate’s online store offering already consisting of $55 Make America Great Again baseball caps and a $499 pair of golden “fight, fight, fight” sneakers.
McDonald’s has attempted to distance itself from the Trump campaign and said in a statement that it does not endorse candidates for elected office following his visit.
The former president, without evidence, has repeatedly claimed that Harris has never worked at the fast food restaurant.
On October 10, Trump told rallygoers in Reno, Nevada, that he would make a pit stop at the Golden Arches.
Trump uses fryer next to an employee during his visit to McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose on Sunday (AP)
Instead of ordering his one-time 2,400kcal order of choice – two Big Macs, two Fillet-O-Fish, and a chocolate milkshake – the former president declared he was “going to a McDonald’s to work”.
The McDonald’s loyalist, whose campaign allegedly spent $31,000 at the fast food chain in the last 18 months, also claimed his minutes-long stint would mean he’d “have worked longer and harder at McDonald’s” than Harris.
On Sunday afternoon, Trump spent just minutes donning an apron and serving up fries during a roughly hour-long photoshoot.
“I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala,” Trump told reporters, throwing a jab at Harris.
Trump also declared that he would cover the cost of all food served to supporters: “Trump is paying for it… This is all on Trump, am I allowed to do that?”
The former president added that he enjoyed his mini-shift and would consider coming back and doing it again.
View comments (94)
Here's What We Know About Trump's 'Shift' at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania and Claims It Was 'Staged'
Aleksandra Wrona
Tue, October 22, 2024
Reddit u/Lifegoesonforever, C-SPAN
Former U.S. President Donald Trump spent about 15 minutes scooping French fries into containers and handing them to drive-thru "customers" at a McDonald's restaurant in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20, 2024, in a publicity stunt arranged by his presidential campaign.
"I worked 15 minutes longer than Kamala Harris ever did," Trump told reporters after the photo op, doubling down on his claims that the vice president lied when she said she worked at a McDonald's in her youth.
When video of Trump's 15-minute stint as a fast-food worker was released, social media platforms erupted with partisan posts claiming it was was "fake," "staged" and merely a "stunt."
It's crucial to note that photo ops and publicity stunts are always, by definition, staged. That said, here are examples of some of the online comments about Trump's McDonald's outing:
"You mean to tell me this was all staged, and that these 'customers' rehearsed in advance to make it seem like a genuine interaction and that the McDonald's was actually closed to the public!" one X post read. Another X post, with more than 1.7 million views, stated: "Who else was NOT surprised to learn that Trump's event at a closed McDonald's was totally staged and as fraudulent as he is?"
The News Media on Trump's 'Shift' At McDonald's
Multiple reliable news outlets, such as The Associated Press, Reuters and the BBC, reported on Trump's visit to the fast-food restaurant. The New York Times rightly called it a "campaign photo op," reporting that Trump handed food to preselected customers.
C-SPAN recorded the visit, stating Trump "worked a 30-minute shift. … He first met with the owner and received a uniform and name tag, and then learned how to make and package french fries before serving some drive-thru customers and answering questions from the press."
You can see the footage of Trump's visit below:
Trump's involvement was limited to a short interaction with staff and customers, learning how to make and package French fries, and serving a few drive-thru customers, rather than a normal employee's full workday involving numerous tasks.
Was the Location Closed?
The primary argument circulating on social media accusing the event of being staged was centered around a printed notice supposedly displayed at the restaurant, stating it was closed. A photograph of the notice was shared on platforms including X, Threads, Facebook and Reddit. "So the place wasn't even open. It was all staged and fake. He didn't work for real at a McDonalds. It was a staged fraud just like every other event," one X user captioned it.
The Washington Post and Philadelphia TV station WCAU also reported the restaurant was closed to the public during Trump's visit.
The text on the notice read:
Dear Feasterville Community,
We plan to be closed on Sunday, October 20 until 4 p.m., to accommodate a visit at the request of former President Trump and his campaign.
While we are not a political organization, we proudly open our doors to everyone and as a locally owned and operated location, this visit provides a unique opportunity to shine a light on the positive impact of small businesses here in Feasterville. We're equally honored to share the significance of what 1 in 8 Americans have experienced: that a job at McDonald's is more than just a job. It's a pathway to critical skills development and meaningful career opportunities. Having started my McDonald's joumey as a crew member in New York nearly 30 years ago. This path to economic opportunity is especially meaningful to me.
I apologize for the inconvenience of closing our restaurant and sincerely look forward to serving you very soon.
Derek Giacomantonio and my team at Feasterville McDonald's
Giacomantonio was shown in the C-SPAN video as an owner of the restaurant.
We have reached out to McDonald's and Giacomantonio to confirm the notice's authenticity.
Photos From the Event
Apart from the printed notice, social media users shared other photographs from the event along with their claims the event was fake. "It was all STAGED!! Trump did not work. McDonald's closed for the day & there was a car rehearsal," one Reddit user wrote. One X post claimed that customers were "handpicked," while another alleged the customers were "pre-selected supporters of his campaign who had practiced how to use the drive-through."
WCAU reported that "it was not immediately clear how the drive-through customers served by Trump were selected." According to The Washington Post, "the motorists whom Trump served were screened by the U.S. Secret Service and positioned before his arrival. No one ordered food. Instead, the attendees received whatever Trump gave them."
These photographs were initially shared by local journalist Tom Sofield, who captioned them with: "Cars rehearsing ahead of former Pres. Trump, who is expected to be serving supporters McDonald's food" and "The supporters who will be served food by Trump are in place and screened by USSS."
(X user @BuxMontNews)
"The fact that you present this like it's some big shock makes me wonder who ties your shoes for you. The USSS didn't let a bunch of random people in their personal vehicles drive up to a drive-thru window with a former President and Presidential candidate," one X user commented, pointing to the fact that screening people in high-security situations is a standard practice.
Sofield confirmed to Snopes that he took the pictures. He said the "rehearsals" involved staging the cars in line and brief conversations with campaign staff, adding that the people in the vehicles waited about an hour or an hour and a half before Trump arrived and handed out food.
We also reached out to Trump's campaign, which did not respond to questions about whether there were rehearsals, how customers were chosen and screened, or whether the notice about the store's closure was real, instead repeating the line that "President Trump has now worked at McDonald's longer than Kamala Harris ever did."
Additionally, we reached out to the Secret Service for comment about how the customers were selected and whether they were screened by the agency, and we will update this report if we receive a response.
Sources:
Contact. https://www.secretservice.gov/contact. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
Contact Information | McDonald's Corporation. https://www.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/contact.html. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
Former President Trump Works at McDonald's in Bucks County, PA | C-SPAN.Org. https://www.c-span.org/video/?539376-1/president-trump-works-mcdonalds-bucks-county-pa. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
Gold, Michael. "Trump Slings McDonald's Fries as He Smears Harris in Pennsylvania." The New York Times, 20 Oct. 2024. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/20/us/politics/trump-mcdonalds-fries.html.
Shalal, Andrea, and Steve Holland. "Trump Hands out French Fries, Harris Visits Georgia Churches." Reuters, 21 Oct. 2024. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-mark-60th-birthday-with-atlanta-church-visits-trump-hits-mcdonalds-2024-10-20/.
"Tom Sofield, Author at LevittownNow.Com." LevittownNow.Com, 21 Oct. 2024, https://levittownnow.com/author/tomsofield/.
Trump Serves up McDonald's Fries and Harris Celebrates Birthday. https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cgryevjjlx2o. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
"Trump Works the Fry Station and Holds a Drive-Thru News Conference at a Pennsylvania McDonald's." AP News, 20 Oct. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-mcdonalds-2024-presidential-election-pennsylvania-73e55c8c1db4adc2a547b62bd5142be3.
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