Donald Trump passed through the golden arches and got behind the fryer at a McDonalds in the Philadelphia suburbs – in a move designed to troll Kamala Harris.
Im going for a job right now at McDonalds – Ive really wanted to do this all my life. And now Im going to do it - of course she didnt do it, Trump said in Philadelphia before heading to the Bucks County franchise.
Inside the store, and sporting a black and yellow apron, the ex-president listened as an employee explained the process of making French fries.
Its a good job, isnt it? Not bad. You have a nice owner? Trump asked. Be careful, hes right there, the ex-president said with a laugh. Be careful. Eight years, thats the end of that.
The employee said that franchise owner, Derek Giacomantonio, was great.
Trumps supporters got wind of the event and lined the street north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike long before Trump was set to appear. Tractor trailer trucks sounded their horns when they drove by hundreds of supporters who cheered and raised Trump flags.
Former President Donald Trump grins as he chats with employees at a suburban Philadelphia McDonalds on Sunday. Trump was taught how to make McDonalds trademark French fries, in a move designed to troll Vice President Kamala Harris
Giacomantonio posted a sign on his store, announcing the closure and writing that while we are not a political organization, we proudly open our doors to everyone. He said the visit gave the chance to shine a light on the positive impact of small businesses.
The Trump camp carefully shielded McDonalds employees when they were outside the restaurant, and asked a photographer to delete images of them for security purposes.
The Republican nominee is spending the entire day campaigning in Pennsylvania, most likely a must-win state for him or Harris.
Were going to the Pittsburgh game tonight. Pittsburgh Steelers. Should be good, said Trump at McDonalds
The eastern part of the state roots for the Philadelphia Eagles, but there isnt a strong rivalry between the teams.
Prior to the ex-presidents arrival, the first customer at the drive-thru was anything but random.
He identified himself to DailyMail.com only by his first name of Jim, and called himself a Trump supporter. He said he didnt believe Harris ever worked at the chain. I dont believe her at all, he said.
Former President Donald Trump chose a McDonalds in Bucks County, a battleground area of Pennsylvania, for his turn at the fryer
Former President Donald Trump makes French fries at a McDonalds in suburban Philadelphia in a move to troll his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump insists Harris made up that she worked at a McDonalds as a student in California
Trump said he had really wanted to do this all my life shortly before heading to a Philadelphia area McDonalds
As for his own order for a packed SUV, I think were going to surprise with some chicken nuggets, he said.
A massive security presence guarded the fast-food stop. Secret Service agents and local law enforcement secured the exurban corridor, with snipers on a nearby roof.
The throngs of MAGA fans booed loudly when cars brandishing Harris-Walz flags occasionally drove buy. Fans let out chants of Trump! Trump! Trump! in anticipation, even with little hope of catching a close-up glimpse of their favorite candidate.
The Trump campaign took extraordinary measures to control the event, letting in just a small pool of reporters with no representative from print or online media for the photo-op. It was a sign of the high stakes of the symbolism the campaign is deploying in an effor to peel away Blue Wall states by prying away working class voters from the suburbs and exurbs.
Trump had been teasing the visit for weeks as a way to turn up the heat on his rival, as he did again at a rally in Latrobe near Pittsburgh Saturday night, when he once again accused his rival of faking her own claim to have worked there as a student.
Trump claimed she lied about working at McDonalds, then added: Thats like not a big thing, but can I be honest with you, its terrible, he said at an event where he spoke about the size of golf legend Arnold Palmers manhood.
Im going to McDonalds to work the french fry, Trump said. I think Im doing it tomorrow, and I think its in a place in Pennsylvania, and Im going to stand over that french fry.
Trumps team has also been raising doubts about Harriss resume.
Trump senior advisor Jason Miller said Trump was doing the visit so that one candidate in this race can actually have worked at McDonalds.
Trump supporters waited for hours for his McDonalds visit
Armed agents lined a nearby roof
The owner posted a sign saying he welcomed all customers
Since Kamala Harris has not, President Trump by the end of tomorrow will have worked at McDonalds. Hell have done fries more than Kamala Harris ever has, he said. I think it shows he connects with hard-working Americans.
Harris has said did fries and worked the cash register at a California McDonalds while she was a student at Howard University. Her campaign has said she worked at an Alameda franchise in 1983.
Harris also referenced her time working there in her 2019 presidential campaign. Her camp hasnt furnished any photos of her youthful job there, although Trump has not provided any eveidence that she lied about it.
Trumps own jobs early in life were working for his fathers real estate company at construction sites and offices, which he did along with brothers Fred Jr. and Robert, according to the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.
It is just the latest effort by Trump to undermine Harris. In Atlanta last month and again during a podcast interview days ago, Trump raised questions about her racial identity (Harriss father is from Jamaica and her mother was of Indian descent).
Kamala Harris said she worked the fries while using a job at McDonalds to support her studies
Then-President Donald Trump speaks behind a table full of McDonalds hamburgers, Chick fil-a sandwiches and other fast food as he welcomes the 2018 Football Division I FCS champs North Dakota State Bison in the Diplomatic Room of the White House on March 4, 2019 in Washington, DC COVID protocols impacted kitchens at the time
Donald Trump eating McDonalds on his plane. It appears he ordered a Big Mac, a large french fries and a Diet Coke
Trump has good reason to be hitting Bucks county, located north of the city of Philadelphia.
It is a populous purple county whose votes are up for grabs.
Hillary Clinton narrowly edged Trump there in 2016, beating him 48.4 to 47.6 percent.
Joe Biden widened the margin in 2020, garnering 52 percent of the vote.
Trump carried the state with its 19 electoral votes in 2016, but Biden snatched it from him in 2020, winning by just 1 percent of the vote.
Harris highlighted her time at mickey Ds during the Democratic convention.
She spoke about it again last week as Trump was accusing her of faking it.
Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonalds is because there are people who work at McDonalds in our country who are trying to raise a family and pay rent on that, she told MSNBC.
And I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people, and what our responsibility then is to meet those needs.
But it was not a small job, like, I did the fries. I mean, you know, I did, she said.
Trump has been building up the appearance since a rally in Reno October 10.
Do you know what I am doing next week? I am going to a McDonalds to work! he told the crowd.
He mentioned it again in Arizona, saying he would work the fryer so I can see how hard her job that never turned out would be.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke to the closeness of the race on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday.
Well, I think if past is prologue, were set for another close race here in Pennsylvania. Let me explain: 2016, the race was decided by 44,000 votes. Donald Trump won here in Pennsylvania. In 2020, the race was settled by 80,000 votes. Joe Biden won. In both instances, it came down to a point or less. So the fact that you have polls showing that its, you know, a jump ball, a statistical dead heat, maybe Kamala Harris is up a point or so – that is not a shock, he said.