With Election Day just over two weeks away, former President Donald Trump took an unexpected detour on his campaign trail, serving customers at a McDonald’s drive-through in Pennsylvania on Sunday. The event, which quickly went viral, saw Trump spending around 15 minutes handing out fries and greeting surprised patrons at the fast-food chain. The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some critics calling the event staged, while Trump’s allies have embraced it as a show of his connection to everyday Americans.
Trump’s brief shift at McDonald’s came as he continues a packed campaign schedule, with appearances planned today in North Carolina, where he will tour hurricane damage in Asheville before holding a rally in Greenville. The drive-through appearance, which some pundits have called a lighthearted moment amid intense political campaigning, also became a focal point of the media conversation on Monday morning.
Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance came to Trump’s defense after some questioned the authenticity of the McDonald’s stunt. Vance dismissed criticisms, noting that the former president has consistently shown his ability to relate to the average American worker. “President Trump’s stop at McDonald’s wasn’t staged—it was a genuine moment of him connecting with people,” Vance said in an interview, responding to those who suggested it was nothing more than a photo-op.
Vance’s comments came after Vice President Kamala Harris took a dig at Trump’s fast-food appearance, mentioning her own time working at McDonald’s during college. Trump fired back, claiming that his 15 minutes in the drive-through on Sunday outlasted Harris’s experience at the chain. “I’ve now worked at McDonald’s longer than she ever has,” Trump quipped to reporters, adding a dose of humor to his retort.
Meanwhile, the campaign trail is heating up for both parties. Vice President Harris is set to make stops in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania today, as she continues to drum up support for her ticket. Her running mate, Tim Walz, will address voters at a campaign event in New York City this evening, as Democrats intensify their efforts in key battleground states.
As Trump continues his outreach to voters, his ability to create memorable, off-script moments, such as the McDonald’s drive-through appearance, remains a hallmark of his campaign style. With Election Day rapidly approaching, both parties are pulling out all the stops to energize their bases and sway undecided voters in what is shaping up to be a pivotal election cycle.
