Donald Trump didn’t actually work at McDonald’s

Yesterday, convicted felon and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attempted to prove that he, a disgraced billionaire, can relate to the average American. He put on an apron, went into the back of a McDonald’s in Feasterville, Pennsylvaniaand I made French fries. Then he served them to customers, smiling and waving as they received their bags of food.

It’s an experience that a significant number of Americans are familiar with: According to McDonald’sone in eight Americans has worked in one of its restaurants. But Trump didn’t really work in any meaningful way. The entire restaurant was closed to normal operation during the press opportunity; drive-thru customers were examined in advance; and, most importantly, none of them asked for food: they simply accepted bags of what Trump gave them.

In reality, no one expects Trump, or any presidential candidate, to work a full shift at a fast food chain. Events like these are always stunts meant to convey that the politician in question respects the people doing the work they are imitating and takes their concerns seriously. “[Making fries is] It’s an easy job to do once, but it’s not an easy job to do over and over again,” author Adam Chandler told Marisa Kabas in her newsletter. the hand basket. “So for a photo shoot, it’s kind of perfect.”

However, Trump has uniquely failed at the photo op that should be a success, because he actually didn’t do even the slightest amount of work. The reason fast food work deserves respect is because it is difficult. Keeping track of orders, making sure everything is packaged correctly and securely, and most importantly, dealing with unpredictable and sometimes disrespectful customers requires attention, speed, and skill. Making a single batch of fries with a McDonald’s employee explaining every step of the way and then handing a bag that no one ordered to someone who is just there to support you doesn’t really reflect the experience of working at McDonald’s.

What it does reflect is the entire spirit of Trump’s campaign. Some would say that the whole point of being a politician is to have to deal with all kinds of people and work to meet their needs. But Trump’s visit to McDonald’s shows that he has no interest in considering people who don’t already share his beliefs. We know from his last presidency that he doesn’t care much Represent Americans who disagree with him.and while he is running for office again, he is actively threatening to deport millions of people he just doesn’t think should be here. The fact that he hasn’t even taken an actual McDonald’s order or spoken to an unvetted customer only reiterates his disinterest in anyone who doesn’t support his view of himself.

Really, this was all meant to be a setup for Vice President Kamala Harris, who Trump claims is lying about. having worked at McDonald’s when I was a student. He, of course, has no proof of his claims, but he joked, “I’ve worked 15 minutes longer than Kamala,” as if he’d ever deigned to work in food service in his life. He also dodged a question from a reporter about whether he would support raising the minimum wage, which would be material recognition of the work of fast food workers. In Pennsylvania, the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and average McDonald’s worker in the state earn $13.22 per hour, which is It’s not enough to pay the rent for a room. anywhere in the state.

“When Trump feels desperate, the only thing he knows how to do is lie. “He can’t understand what it’s like to have a summer job because he was handed millions on a silver platter, only to waste it,” said Harris spokesman Ian Sams. he told the Boston Herald. Working in fast food service is not a prerequisite for respecting workers or believing they deserve a living wage and safe working conditions. But Trump’s attempt to engage with the working class only shows how unwilling he is to empathize.