Donald Trump to helm as a fryer at McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. Here’s why

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, 78, is set to make an unexpected stop in the Philadelphia area this weekend by working behind the counter at a McDonald’s. This move comes after Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, 59, has repeatedly highlighted her middle-class background and time working at McDonald’s in her campaign advertisements and speeches.
The former president has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that Harris never worked at McDonald’s, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Trump’s visit, scheduled for Sunday, will include a shift as a “fry cook”, reportedly aimed at countering Harris’ campaign narrative about her time working at McDonald’s during her college years. This will mark Trump’s third visit to Pennsylvania this week, emphasising the state’s critical role in the upcoming election.
Pennsylvania is the state where an assassination attempt was made on Trump, and it is also where the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, was first seen campaigning at the same site where the attempt occurred.
During a campaign event in Indiana, Pennsylvania, last month, Trump said, “I want to work as a fry cook to see how it is,” referencing Harris’ past job. According to CNN, Trump is expected to fulfil this promise during his visit this weekend.
Trump’s stop will take place at a yet-to-be-disclosed McDonald’s location in the Philadelphia area, before he attends the Steelers-Jets game in Pittsburgh later the same day, as reported by CBS News station KDKA.
Harris continues to use her experience working at McDonald’s to connect with working-class voters, contrasting her early job experience with Trump’s, who started his career in his father’s real estate business. Harris has emphasised her journey in her campaign to highlight her middle-class roots.
Both candidates are making frequent visits to Pennsylvania in the final weeks leading up to Election Day on November 5, as both see the state as critical for a victory. Trump and Harris are heavily investing in Pennsylvania, with hundreds of millions of dollars being spent by both campaigns, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Earlier this week, Trump held a town hall event in Oaks, Montgomery County, moderated by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. The event took an unusual turn and turned into a musical fest after two medical emergencies in the crowd, prompting Trump to play his campaign playlist, creating a “listen-and-sway” session.
Trump is also scheduled to return to Western Pennsylvania on Saturday for a rally in Latrobe. Harris will continue her Pennsylvania campaign with a visit to the Philadelphia suburbs on Wednesday, following her earlier stop in Erie this week.