McDonald’s said it couldn’t necessarily confirm Vice President Kamala Harris ever took a job at one of its burger joints — but added it was “proud to hear” she had “fond memories” of working there as a teen.
The fast-food giant on Sunday extended an invite to Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, to visit one of its restaurants “in order to share how McDonald’s provides meaningful pathways to economic opportunity and feeds and fosters local communities.”
The invite came the same day former President Donald Trump manned the french fry cooker at one of the Golden Arches’ restaurants in battleground Pennsylvania over the weekend.
Trump has accused Harris of lying about her time working at McDonald’s.
“While we and our franchisees don’t have records for all positions dating back to the early ’80s, what makes ‘1 in 8’ so powerful is the shared experience so many Americans have had,” the company said in a lengthy statement that was posted on X.
The “1 in 8” is a reference to an oft-cited statistic indicating that one out of every eight Americans has at one point worked at a McDonald’s.
The vice president claimed she worked the cash register and made fries at a Bay Area McDonald’s location during the summer of 1983 while she was on break from pursuing an undergraduate degree at Howard University.
McDonald’s noted in the statement that it was “proud to hear former President Trump’s love for” its products as well as Harris’ “fond memories working under the Arches.”
McDonald’s added that it “does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race…”
Regarding Trump’s surprise stint cooking fries and manning the drive-thru at McDonald’s in Feasterville-Trevose, Pa. on Sunday, the company said that one of its franchisees was approved by local law enforcement.
“Upon learning of the former President’s request, we approached it through the lens of one of our core values: we open our doors to everyone,” the company said.
“It’s with that same approach that franchisees have invited Vice President Harris and Governor Walz to their restaurants in order to share how McDonald’s provides meaningful pathways to economic opportunity and feeds and fosters local communities,” McDonald’s said.
The Post has sought comment from the Harris campaign.
McDonald’s noted in its statement that it has become “a fixture of conversation this election cycle” — given Harris’ purported time working there as well as Trump’s long-established fondness for its fast food.
“While we’ve not sought this, it’s a testament to how much McDonald’s resonates with so many Americans,” the company said.
The carefully worded statement came after left-leaning media wrestled to respond to Trump’s surprise McDonald’s appearance, in which he made small talk with staffers and customers while taking jabs at Harris.
NBC News, which chided the former president for “oversalting” the fries, dissected the security measures taken by the campaign ahead of the Mickey D’s stopover, even pointing out that the passengers of cars at the drive-thru were “screened and searched” — despite the fact he had faced a pair of assassination attempts in as many months.
Rolling Stone magazine called the appearance “bizarre.”
The New York Times took Trump to task for his attire, mocking his French cuff shirt and lack of hairnet and questioning his culinary experience, writing, “there is scant evidence of Mr. Trump cooking for himself.”
