McDonald's declines to endorse a presidential candidate after Trump visit: 'We are golden'

McDonald's declined to endorse a presidential candidate on Monday after former President Donald Trump visited one of its franchises in Pennsylvania, and reminded voters that it was "golden" not "red or blue." 

McDonald's has emerged as a talking point on the campaign trail recently, after Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that she used to work for the company one summer, when she was a college student in 1983. The company said it does not have a record of employees from the early 1980s, and Trump has accused Harris of lying about her employment.

The company reiterated in a statement reported by The Hill that it does not weigh in on politics, and works to create an environment that is accessible to everyone.

“As we’ve seen, our brand has been a fixture of conversation this election cycle. While we’ve not sought this, it’s a testament to how much McDonald’s resonates with so many Americans,” the company said. “McDonald’s does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next President. We are not red or blue — we are golden.” 

McDonald's said that Trump's temporary "employment" at the Pennsylvania McDonald's was organized locally. Trump worked the drive-thru and fryer on Sunday at a franchise in Bucks County.

“Upon learning of the former President’s request, we approached it through the lens of one of our core values: we open our doors to everyone,” the company said. “It’s with that same approach that franchisees have invited Vice President Harris and [Minnesota] Governor [Tim] Walz to their restaurants, in order to share how McDonald’s provides meaningful pathways to economic opportunity and feeds and fosters local communities.”

“Though we are not a political brand, we’ve been proud to hear former President Trump’s love for McDonald’s and Vice President Harris’s fond memories working under the arches,” it added.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.