Donald Trump Jr. recently made headlines by asserting that his father, former President Donald Trump, knows the McDonald’s menu “much better” than Vice President Kamala Harris. This statement comes as part of the ongoing Republican campaign, which has been critical of Harris’s claims about her working-class background, including her assertion that she once worked at the fast-food chain.
During an appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime, Trump Jr. criticized Harris after her interview with Fox News host Bret Baier. He accused her of fabricating her job experiences to appear relatable to the public. “I think my father knows the McDonald’s menu much better than Kamala Harris ever did,” he stated emphatically.
Trump Jr. went on to express curiosity about which McDonald’s location Harris worked at, suggesting that she may simply tell people what they want to hear to gain favor. This claim builds on a longstanding accusation from the Trump camp that Harris lied about her summer job at McDonald’s in California while she was a student.
Harris has shared her McDonald’s experience during her 2020 presidential campaign as a way to connect with voters, particularly those in low-paying jobs. She also supported McDonald’s employees during their strikes in 2019. While Trump has publicly labeled her story as “fake” and questioned her work history, there is no concrete evidence to prove or disprove her claims.
The former president has even vowed to work a 30-minute shift at a McDonald’s in Philadelphia, asserting that he would work “longer and harder” than Harris did. This rhetoric continues to frame the presidential race as a competition between a former fast-food worker and a devoted McDonald’s fan.
Donald Trump has a well-documented affection for the fast-food giant. As president, he famously served McDonald’s to the Clemson University football team during a government shutdown. Additionally, reports from former aides revealed that Trump’s typical McDonald’s order includes “two Big Macs, two Fillet-O-Fish, and a chocolate malt.”
Recent filings with the Federal Election Commission indicate that Trump’s campaign spent a staggering $31,000 at McDonald’s between January 2023 and September 2024. Given his long-standing love for the restaurant, it seems plausible that Trump is quite familiar with its menu, especially considering that Harris’s experience dates back over 40 years.
In this increasingly heated political environment, the battle of fast-food credentials showcases the lengths to which both sides will go to connect with voters. While Trump Jr. boasts of his father’s McDonald’s expertise, it’s clear that the discussion goes beyond just burgers and fries, highlighting deeper themes of authenticity and connection in politics.
