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McDonald's agreed to Trump event but says it isn't endorsing a presidential candidate

Republican presidential nominee former U.S. president Donald Trump stands at a drive-thru window during a campaign stop at a McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, Pa. on Oct. 20, 2024. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool) Republican presidential nominee former U.S. president Donald Trump stands at a drive-thru window during a campaign stop at a McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, Pa. on Oct. 20, 2024. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
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McDonald鈥檚 Corp. agreed to host former U.S. president Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania store over the weekend but said it isn鈥檛 endorsing a candidate in the U.S. presidential race.

Trump staffed the fry station at a McDonald鈥檚 in suburban Philadelphia on Sunday before answering questions through the drive-thru window. The restaurant was closed to the public for the Republican nominee's visit.

In a message to employees obtained Monday by The Associated Press, McDonald's said the owner-operator of the location, Derek Giacomantonio reached out after he learned of Trump鈥檚 desire to visit a Pennsylvania restaurant. McDonald鈥檚 agreed to the event.

鈥淯pon learning of the former president鈥檚 request, we approached it through the lens of one of our core values: we open our doors to everyone,鈥 the company said. 鈥淢cDonald鈥檚 does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next president. We are not red or blue 鈥 we are golden."

The Chicago burger giant said franchisees have also invited U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, to their restaurants. The Associated Press left a message seeking comment with the Harris campaign.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks from a drive-thru window during a campaign stop at a McDonald's, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Feasterville-Trevose, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

McDonald鈥檚 said it has 鈥渂een a fixture of conversation this election cycle鈥 even though it hasn鈥檛 sought that attention. At several campaign stops and during interviews, Harris has recalled working at McDonald鈥檚 for spending money during her college years. Trump has claimed 鈥 without evidence 鈥 that Harris is lying.

McDonald鈥檚 sidestepped that issue in its employee message. The company said it is proud of 鈥淗arris鈥檚 fond memories working under the arches鈥 and noted the often-cited figure that 1 in 8 Americans works at McDonald鈥檚 at some point.

鈥淲hile we and our franchisees don鈥檛 have records for all positions dating back to the early 鈥80s, what makes 鈥1 in 8鈥 so powerful is the shared experience so many Americans have had,鈥 McDonald鈥檚 said.

Trump鈥檚 appearance led to some backlash on social media. Google searches for 鈥渂oycott McDonald鈥檚鈥 briefly surged Monday morning, and some Twitter users vowed not to return to the chain after Trump鈥檚 event.

But Lori Rosen, president of the public relations firm Rosen Group, said McDonald鈥檚 won鈥檛 likely see long-term damage from the event.

鈥淭he coverage and publicity alone generated from McDonald鈥檚 agreeing to have former President Trump work at one of their franchises already surpasses the negative chatter on social media ,鈥 Rosen said. 鈥淚 am not sure if the American people will benefit from this publicity stunt. However, McDonald鈥檚 comes out ahead.鈥

Bruce Newman, a professor in business ethics and marketing at DePaul University鈥檚 Driehaus College of Business, agrees.

鈥淭hey look like the company that鈥檚 getting the attention of the presidential candidates, and it heightens the awareness of the brand,鈥 he said.

Newman added that Trump was likely trying to put a different, more casual face on his campaign, wearing a smile and an apron instead of a suit jacket.

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