Key Takeaways:
• Donald Trump’s recent campaign stop at McDonald’s in Pennsylvania highlights his long-time fascination with the fast food chain.
• The mise-en-scene at a McDonald’s, with Trump taking a turn at dunking fries in oil, represents his criticism towards Kamala Harris’ alleged brief employment at the food chain.
• McDonald’s has become a strange point of competition in Trump’s campaign as he contests his familiarity with the menu surpasses that of his rival.
• Trump’s admiration for McDonald’s traces back years, with his family and former aides recounting his commitment to the chain.
• His preference for fast food stems from a self-professed fear of being poisoned and appreciation for standardized food preparation.
Trump’s Long-standing Fascination with McDonald’s
Donald Trump’s campaign stop at a McDonald’s in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, wore a shroud of intrigue for the bystanders. The former President was spotted play-acting as a McDonald’s employee, dunking fries into oil, salting them, and handing bags of food to drive-thru customers. This surprise display at the fast food outlet underscores his long-held fascination with McDonald’s.
Trump vs Harris: The McDonald’s Connection
The unlikely McDonald’s cameo serves as a reflection of Trump’s contestation against Vice President Kamala Harris’ confessions of a brief stint at the same fast-food chain in the 1980s. Trump questioned the authenticity of this claim, as it had been employed by Harris’s campaign team to amplify her working-class credibility. Supporters of Trump have pointed to the lack of mention of McDonald’s in Harris’s resume. At the McDonald’s campaign stop, Trump was heard saying, “I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala.”
Trump’s Connection with the Golden Arches
McDonald’s has been emblematic in Trump’s life and political campaigns. His son, Donald Trump Jr., and Trump himself have previously claimed his deeper understanding of McDonald’s menus over Vice President Harris. They believe the familiarity stems from Trump’s continued patronage of the restaurant.
Furthermore, anecdotes from family members and former campaign officials illustrate Trump’s loyalty to the chain. According to his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Trump’s request for McDonald’s food indicated his recovery from COVID-19 in 2020. On the other hand, campaign officials Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie have recounted Trump’s standard McDonald’s order. Trump even had McDonald’s food brought into court during his fraud trial in 2019.
Return to the Order of the Golden Arches
As recounted by unnamed former aides, Trump’s penchant for McDonald’s persisted through his 2016 campaign, with routine orders being placed at the outlet near Marine Air Terminal in Queens. These ordering habits included Egg McMuffins in the morning or two quarter-pounders with cheese and large fries later in the day. Politico reported that Keith Schiller, Trump’s former bodyguard, often made fast food runs in situations where “the White House kitchen staff couldn’t match the satisfaction of a quarter-pounder with cheese and a fried apple pie.”
Rationalizing Trump’s Obsession with Fast Food
Trump’s seeming obsession with McDonald’s and fast food, in general, can be traced to two arguments: his fear of being poisoned and his belief in standardized food preparation. Michael Wolff, in his 2018 book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” referred to this fear, highlighting that eating at McDonald’s ensured food safety as his visits were usually unannounced.
Trump himself explained his food choices by citing the cleanliness and standards of fast food joints. Stating his preference for McDonald’s, Trump elaborated, “I’m a very clean person. I like cleanliness, and I think you’re better off going there than maybe someplace that you have no idea where the food’s coming from. It’s a certain standard.”
By leveraging the universal appeal of this fast food giant, Trump continues to craft a relatable image, bolstering his connection with the brand that has been a part of his life for years. McDonald’s, it seems, is more than just fast food to Donald Trump; it is a symbol that plays on multiple layers – capturing aspects of his personal palate preferences, political maneuverings, and his self-identity rooted in Americana.