Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made headlines this weekend when, as part of campaign efforts, he stopped at a McDonald’s restaurant in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, and manned the fry station, donning a black and yellow apron.
This contrasts Democratic rival Kamala Harris’ claims that she used to work at the fast-food chain while in college. Trump has accused Harris of fabricating her experience, saying,
“It was a big part of her resume that she worked at McDonald’s- how tough a job it was. She’s never worked at McDonald’s.”
However, the visit almost immediately became controversial, particularly after a banner posted on the McDonald’s outlet went viral online. The notice to customers was to let them know that the restaurant would be closed on the day in favor of Trump’s visit. Many called the event out as “staged” for publicity.
The notice, signed by restaurant manager Derek Giacomantonio, read in part:
“We plan to be closed on Sunday, October 20, until 4 PM, to accommodate a visit at the request of former President Trump and his campaign.”
It further remarked that the restaurant was not a political organization but would allow Feasertron to show how small businesses create positive effects in the area. It was thereafter announced at the end that an apology was for such an inconvenience of closure.
As pictures of the shuttered McDonald’s spread on social media, users quickly called the incident “fake” and “staged.” Several comments explained that no crowds were there; in fact, only one car and a person were visible near it. One X user exclaimed,
“Working. They closed the McDonald’s for the Trump clown show. It’s all staged like everything they do.”
Some disapproved, feeling a protest of this nature was wrong in the first place; others said it needed to be closed as a security measure. One supporter added,
“Of course it was closed. Did you think they would let random people in during a presidential visit?”
The viral notice and subsequent social media debate polarized public opinion into viewing Trump’s McDonald’s visit as a contrived PR stunt or an actual campaign stop.
