LATROBE, Pa. — On Sunday, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump is set to visit a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, where he intends to continue his criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has made claims, without providing evidence, that Harris has never worked at the fast-food establishment during her college years.
Trump’s agenda for the day includes flipping fries at McDonald’s, participating in a town hall meeting later in Lancaster, and attending a Pittsburgh Steelers game against the New York Jets. Recently, he has fixated on a summer job Harris mentioned from her time at Howard University in Washington, where she reportedly handled cash and made fries. Trump asserts that she did not actually work there, a move that aligns with his broader strategy of leveraging conspiracy theories to undermine the credentials of his political foes.
During a campaign rally in Detroit on Friday night, Trump reiterated his assertion, accusing Harris of dishonesty regarding her employment at McDonald’s. “It’s not a major issue, but frankly, it’s quite unfortunate,” he remarked.
In response, Harris emphasizes her past experience at McDonald’s as part of her connection to working-class issues. Having served as a prosecutor before her election to the Senate and the vice presidency, she argues that her time at the fast-food chain reflects her understanding of the challenges faced by everyday Americans. In a recent MSNBC interview, Harris firmly defended her history at the restaurant from Trump’s allegations, stating she truly did work there while studying. “I mention my McDonald’s job because many people rely on such positions to support their families,” she said.
Harris further pointed out the contrasting approaches she and Trump take regarding the needs of the American populace.
Trump’s senior campaign strategist Jason Miller defended the McDonald’s visit, highlighting it as a contrast between the candidates’ job histories. “By working at McDonald’s tomorrow, President Trump will have done more fry cooking than Kamala Harris ever did,” he stated, asserting that this demonstrates Trump’s connection to hardworking Americans.
The response from Harris’ campaign regarding Trump’s McDonald’s visit was not provided immediately, and efforts to obtain historical employment records from the fast-food chain were also unacknowledged.
Throughout his campaign, Trump has relied on unfounded claims; his track record includes asserting, without basis, that he lost the 2020 election due to voter fraud. He has previously claimed there were incidents of immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, consuming pets.
Trump’s pattern of disparaging opponents by dredging up personal histories—especially targeting women and racial minorities—has long been noted. Before his presidential aspirations, he propagated the “birther” conspiracy, claiming that President Barack Obama was a non-U.S. citizen. Although Trump demanded Obama’s birth certificate, he only conceded the truth five years later after Obama publicly released it.
Trump has also made questionable accusations against other political figures, such as suggesting ties between Senator Ted Cruz’s father and the assassin of President John F. Kennedy during their rivalry for the 2016 nomination. Similarly, in the current election cycle, he made erroneous claims about Nikki Haley’s eligibility to run for president based on her parents’ citizenship status, despite her status as a native-born citizen.
Republican strategist Barrett Marson described Trump’s focus on Harris’ past employment as an odd diversion that runs the risk of alienating voters. He argues that Trump would benefit from concentrating on key issues like the economy and immigration, instead of what he deems irrelevant topics. “There aren’t undecided voters likely to adjust their stances over a decades-old McDonald’s job,” Marson commented, suggesting that Trump should prioritize the concerns that resonate with voters.