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President Trump jokingly declared himself the first former McDonald’s fry cook to become president during his address at the McDonald’s Impact Summit 2025 in Washington, D.C., taking a lighthearted dig at his former election rival Kamala Harris.
“I’m honored to stand before you as the very first former McDonald’s fry cook ever to become President of the United States,” Trump told the audience of franchisees and executives. “And I actually was there for about 30 minutes, and that was 30 minutes longer than Kamala was there, despite her job at McDonald’s. That didn’t work out too well.”
The president’s remarks referenced his October 2024 campaign stop at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s, where he donned the company’s signature apron and worked the fryer in front of cameras. The visit was strategically designed to connect with working-class voters while simultaneously challenging Harris’s claims about her employment history.
During that campaign visit, Trump greeted employees and customers while handling the spatula at the fry station. “Hello, everybody. It’s my first day at McDonald’s — I’m looking for a job,” he quipped to the restaurant owner. “I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala at McDonald’s.”
Trump used his appearance at the Impact Summit to position himself as a long-time supporter of the iconic fast-food chain, describing himself as “one of your all-time most loyal customers.” He revealed that during his presidential campaign, Trump Force One was regularly stocked with McDonald’s meals rather than expensive catering options.
“When Trump Force One — prior to ascending to Air Force One — flew during the campaign, we served only McDonald’s almost every time,” the president told the audience. “On occasion we couldn’t find one, which is pretty hard to believe, but we really did. You fed us very well, and I even got Bobby Kennedy to eat a Big Mac. He told me he loved it.”
The president took the opportunity to weave McDonald’s into his broader economic narrative, praising the company for maintaining affordability and creating jobs across the country. He specifically highlighted recent price decreases on popular menu items as evidence of broader economic improvements under his administration.
“In the past six months, the price of breakfast items has fallen 14%,” Trump stated. “Bread prices are down, dairy prices are down, and the price of eggs has declined 86% since March. I want to give a very special thanks to McDonald’s for slashing prices for the most popular items.”
Trump portrayed McDonald’s as emblematic of American entrepreneurship and economic opportunity, calling the company a “cornerstone of the American dream.” He emphasized the chain’s role in providing entry-level jobs, franchise opportunities, and affordable meals for families.
“From the cashier starting her first job, to a franchisee opening his first location, to the young family in a drive-thru line — that’s the American dream,” Trump concluded. “I made the French fries, and the response was love.”
The McDonald’s appearance represents Trump’s continued efforts to maintain a relatable public image despite his wealth and business background. By highlighting his brief stint behind the fryer and his personal connection to the brand, the president is attempting to reinforce his populist credentials and demonstrate his understanding of everyday American experiences.
The Impact Summit appearance also reflects Trump’s characteristic use of humor as a political tool, blending self-deprecating jokes with sharp critiques of political opponents – a style that has become a hallmark of his communications approach both on the campaign trail and in office.
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12 Comments
It’s an unusual claim for a president to make – being the first former McDonald’s employee to reach the White House. I’m curious to see how this plays out and whether it resonates with voters or comes across as gimmicky.
You’re right, it is an unusual boast. I’ll be interested to see if Trump can successfully leverage this to connect with blue-collar workers, or if it just comes across as an awkward attempt at relatability.
Interesting that Trump is trying to connect with working-class voters by referencing his brief stint at McDonald’s. It’s a clever strategy, though I’m not sure how much it will resonate. What do you think – will this help him build support among that demographic?
I’m curious to see how voters respond to this. Trying to play up your ‘everyman’ credentials is a common political tactic, but it remains to be seen if this particular angle will pay off for Trump.
Haha, Trump taking jabs at Kamala Harris over her employment history is pretty typical of his combative campaign style. I wonder if this kind of personal attack will land well with voters, or if they’ll see it as more partisan mudslinging.
Definitely an interesting political move, though I’m not sure it adds much substance to the debate. Still, it will be worth watching how voters react to this type of rhetoric.
This is a curious claim from Trump, though I’m not sure it will resonate all that strongly. His background is hardly that of a typical McDonald’s employee, so I wonder how much this will really do to boost his appeal among working-class voters.
You make a fair point. Trump’s privileged upbringing and business background seem quite far removed from the average McDonald’s worker. It will be interesting to see if this branding strategy actually gains him any meaningful political traction.
Trump’s comments about his brief stint at McDonald’s seem like a calculated attempt to position himself as more relatable to average Americans. But given his privileged background, I’m not sure how convincing this will be for most voters.
It’s an interesting angle, but I suspect many will see it as more of a gimmick than a genuine connection. Trump has a long history of elitism that is hard to overcome, no matter how much he tries to play up his ‘working class’ credentials.
This seems like a rather transparent attempt by Trump to portray himself as a ‘man of the people’ after his long history of elitist behavior. I wonder how effective it will be in convincing voters, especially those who may be skeptical of his populist rhetoric.
I agree, it does feel like a bit of political theater rather than a genuine connection to the working class. But you raise a good point – it may still resonate with some voters who want to see that kind of ‘everyman’ image from their leaders.