Fact Check: Did McDonald’s Endorse Donald Trump?

Former President Donald Trump manned the fries station, served them and chatted with customers at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania on Sunday, sparking a social media frenzy.

During the campaign stop in Feasterville-Trevose, a swing voter area northeast of Philadelphia, Trump traded his signature navy blue suit for the fast-food chain’s uniform. “I’m applying for a job at McDonald’s right now,” Trump joked to reporters as he stepped off his plane. “I’ve always wanted to do this.”

A month earlier, Trump had hinted that he was interested in working at one of the chain’s restaurants. As reporters and aides looked on, an employee guided Trump through the process of frying and salting the fries, then using a scoop to box them. A known fan of fast food, Trump expressed surprise that he didn’t need to handle the fries with his hands.

The visit to the Bucks County McDonald’s comes as Trump continues to escalate his criticism of Harris’ remark that she worked at the fast-food chain during college. After the photos circulated online, some users raised questions about McDonald’s position on the election, wondering if it had endorsed Trump.

The Claim

Shortly after the photos surfaced, some users on X (formerly Twitter) said the former president’s appearance at the restaurant was due to an endorsement from the fast-food giant.

Users across the political spectrum reacted to the campaign stop, with Trump supporters saying the visit reflected his support from big corporations. Meanwhile, some critics even called for a boycott of the fast-food chain.

The Facts

McDonald’s operates on a franchise model, meaning the vast majority of its locations are independently owned and operated. While franchise owners are required to follow corporate guidelines, they have the freedom to invite political candidates without approval from McDonald’s headquarters.

After images from the visit appeared online, McDonald’s issued an internal memo stating that it had not invited Trump and is not endorsing either the GOP nominee or his opponent in the White House race.

“McDonald’s does not endorse candidates for elected office, and that remains true in this race for president. We are not red or blue — we are golden,” the memo reads. It was signed by McDonald’s President Joe Erlinger, along with the company’s chief financial officer and national field president.

The visit was organized by Jim Worthington, a Trump supporter and fundraiser who owns a nearby athletic complex, according to the Associated Press. The Trump campaign reached out to Worthington in search of a McDonald’s location in Pennsylvania to visit. The idea was to connect with working-class voters in a key swing state and give Trump a platform to criticize Harris.

Worthington reached out to the franchise owner, Derek Giacomantonio, through a mutual connection to arrange the event.

Initially, Giacomantonio was concerned about how McDonald’s corporate offices might react and worried that being linked to Trump could harm his business or lead to a boycott. After receiving assurances, he ultimately agreed to host the event.

The Ruling

False

The claim that McDonald’s has endorsed Trump is false. The Pennsylvania visit was organized by an independent franchise owner, not by the corporate headquarters. McDonald’s said in a memo that it does not endorse political candidates, and the company had no involvement in arranging Trump’s visit.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek