Was Donald Trumps McDonald's Shift 'Staged'?

During a campaign stop in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump visited a McDonald's and learned how to make fries at a branch in Feasterville-Trevose in Bucks County.

On Sunday, the Republican presidential nominee held an impromptu press conference through the drive-thru's window. Trump, known for his love of fast food, used the opportunity to attack Harris over claims she never worked at a fast food chain during her college years. The vice president has previously said she worked at a McDonald's as a student at Howard University in Washington.

However, rumors have been circulating on social media that Trump's visit to McDonald's was "staged."

Former President Donald Trump hands out an order of fries after working alongside an employee during a visit to McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. Rumors have been circulating on social media that... Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool

According to a post on Reddit, a signed letter placed on the storefront by Derek Giacomantonio, the unit's manager, said: "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."

The note ended with, "I apologize for the inconvenience of closing our restaurant and sincerely look forward to serving you very soon."

Newsweek cannot verify the authenticity of the letter.

Images from the social media post appear to be the same location where Trump was working. A photo appears to show an employee standing outside the drive-thru signaling cars.

The Washington Post reported that the restaurant was closed to the public during Trump's visit, and the customers whom Trump served were screened by the Secret Service and positioned before his arrival.

Giacomantonio, the owner of the McDonald's franchise, said in a statement: "It is a fundamental value of my organization that we proudly open our doors to everyone who visits the Feasterville community."

According to a press release issued by his campaign, "President Donald J. Trump suited up for a shift at McDonald's in Bucks County, Pennsylvania."

A full shift generally implies 8 to 9 hours of work, yet posts circulating on social media suggest Trump worked there for less.

"Well, I'm looking for a job, and I've always wanted to work at McDonald's, but I never did. I'm running against somebody who said she did, but it turned out to be a totally phony story. So, if you don't mind, I want to work the French fry counter," Trump said to the owner of the store after he arrived.

As his staff and reporters observed, a McDonald's employee instructed him on how to lower fries into the oil, salt them, and use a scoop to box them.

"I've now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala... She never worked here," the former president said through the drive-thru window on Sunday.

Trump has repeated his unsubstantiated claim that the Democratic presidential nominee lied about working at McDonald's. The vice president said she worked in the burger chain during her failed presidential bid in 2019.

Harris's campaign has said that she worked at a franchise on Central Avenue in Alameda, California, during the summer of 1983, following her freshman year at Howard University.

Newsweek has contacted the Trump and Harris campaigns for comment.

Former President Donald Trump stands at a drive-thru window during a campaign stop at a McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool

Does McDonald's Hire Convicted Felons?

Jon Cooper, a former campaign chair for ex-President Barack Obama, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "The irony is that Trump's 34 felony convictions would prevent him from getting a job at McDonald's."

However, this appears to be a false statement, as according to the U.S. probation office, McDonald's is on a list of felon-friendly employers.

McDonald's does hire convicted felons in the U.S., though the specific policies may vary depending on the location, the nature of the felony, and how much time has passed since the conviction.

Most McDonald's locations are franchises, meaning each franchise owner may set their own hiring policies, so this can vary from one location to another.

One user on Indeed said in a comment, "Yes, they do hire felons. It has a lot to do with showing that you have rehabilitated, i.e., successful completion of felony probation.

As a 7-time felon/5 misdemeanor, I worked at a McDonald's restaurant in Kalamazoo, MI, for nearly a year and only quit due to very poor management of the franchise I worked at as well as a serious family illness. In other words, I do believe they look at hiring felons on an individual case-by-case basis."

Newsweek has contacted McDonald's for comment.