McDonald’s found itself in the spotlight during the 2024 election after former President Donald Trump made an appearance at a Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania location over the weekend, serving fries to customers. However, the fast-food giant clarified it had no involvement in Trump’s visit.
As a franchise-based company, the vast majority of McDonald’s locations are independently owned and operated. While franchisees must follow certain corporate guidelines, they are free to host political figures, such as Trump, without needing approval from the McDonald’s corporation.
In an internal memo to employees, obtained by CNN, McDonald’s emphasized that it did not invite Trump or seek the political attention that has come its way. However, the company highlighted the situation as a reflection of McDonald’s strong connection to everyday American life.
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“As we’ve seen, our brand has become a topic of conversation this election season. While we didn’t pursue this attention, it shows just how much McDonald’s resonates with millions of Americans,” the memo stated. “McDonald’s does not endorse political candidates, and that holds true in this presidential race. We’re not red or blue – we’re golden.”
The memo was signed by McDonald’s President Joe Erlinger, along with other top executives, including the chief financial officer and national field president.
McDonald’s expressed pride in former President Donald Trump’s well-known love for the brand and acknowledged Vice President Kamala Harris’ past association with the company, as she frequently mentions her brief stint working there during the summer of 1983 while attending Howard University. Trump, however, has disputed this claim without providing evidence.
Despite the company’s neutral stance, some customers and employees voiced criticism following Trump’s recent visit, accusing McDonald’s of allowing him to campaign at the restaurant.
In response, McDonald’s clarified in a memo that the visit was coordinated by Derek Giacomantonio, the franchise owner, who had been approached by local law enforcement regarding Trump’s desire to stop by. Giacomantonio agreed to host the event.
“He was proud to showcase how he and his team serve their local community and provide delicious food, like our World-Famous French Fries,” the company stated. “When we learned of the former President’s request, we approached it based on one of our core values: we welcome everyone.”
McDonald’s Franchise Model
Franchises are a fundamental component of McDonald’s business strategy, with around 95% of its locations run by independent franchise operators. These operators pay a royalty to use the McDonald’s brand and benefit from its business expertise, while also contributing to operational costs such as restaurant renovations.
However, the company has faced challenges with some franchisees in the past. One notable incident occurred when a McDonald’s operator in Israel offered discounts to soldiers and security forces following Hamas’ October 7 attack. The promotion went viral on social media, leading to boycotts in several Muslim-majority countries. McDonald’s later noted that these boycotts have impacted its earnings in the Middle East over the last few quarters.
Similar issues have arisen in other companies. For instance, Starbucks faced backlash last year after reports suggested some stores were banning Pride displays, despite the company’s support for LGBTQ+ rights. Although no official policy prohibited such displays, some franchisees chose not to allow them, sparking controversy. Starbucks eventually clarified its stance on the matter.
In response to political events, McDonald’s has developed “election toolkits” to help franchisees manage such situations, providing guidelines for handling visits from political figures.
