Trump Plays Pretend - Goes to "Work" at McDonald's
Give me a break
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This McDonald's stunt is kind of old news, but keep reading.
I don’t write about politics. I wouldn’t describe this newsletter as political. However, I do follow politics closely. If I graded my political interest, I’d give myself a B. I used to be an A+. I used to be consumed by American politics. I even considered creating a business out of explaining it to people.
But I didn’t.
I got super burnt out on it, but I still pay attention and continue to learn.
If I get the honor to vote and to participate in a democracy, you’d better believe I’m going to do it. I’ve never missed a presidential election since I turned 18.
So, here I am. An American. Two weeks before Election Day. Sitting down to write this newsletter that isn’t usually political, with politics raging all around me. I was a bit torn on the newsletter topic this week. I wasn’t sure I was going to write it.
Here’s what changed my mind.
The stunt
I saw a TikTok of New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). She was discussing the Trump/McDonald's "workday," and what she said got to me. It really struck me. She connected a few things that had been like ribbons floating in the breeze, flying through my mind.
AOC is a former bartender and understands what it’s like to work an hourly wage job and earn tips. She pinpointed a few details about that McDonald's publicity stunt. She pointed out why that stunt gave me the ultimate ick. I mean, everything Trump does gives me the ick, but this was different.
That publicity stunt was just that - a stunt - a photo op. There was no engagement with working people or trying to learn about their lives and their needs. It was just Trump doing what he does best - pretending to be something he’s not.
After the visit to the fast food restaurant with hand-picked staff, Trump got to take off the apron, get in his limousine, and laugh at the working class. He thinks we’re fools. He thinks we don’t understand how he’s trying to play us. He thinks he’s slick. He’s not one of us, and he never has been. He cannot fathom our struggles or needs.
He doesn’t understand working two jobs. He doesn’t understand having to decide to eat at home to save money. Or choosing not to buy yourself something because your kid needs shoes.
He’s never. had. to. think. like. that. ever.
Ever.
What’s even worse - he does not care. Not even a little.
Comments on social media roasted him for not even rolling up his sleeves during the visit. What a stiff. He has no idea.
He even remarked about how amazing it was that, when preparing fries and filling the fry cartons, "your hands never even touch the fries!”
WTF do you mean? Of course, they don’t. Do you think people are grabbing handfuls of hot fries with their bare hands and shoving them into the fry containers? He did. That’s what he thought.
The McDonald's photo op is a startling reminder that some people see the jobs of hourly workers as trivial.
The whole reason for this stupid stunt is that Kamala Harris said she worked at a McDonald's. So, now Trump has to pull some photo op to prove he’s done it, too.
It’s embarrassing for his campaign and an utter waste of time.
It’s like when you’re a kid and someone says they can run faster than you. You’re like, "Nuh-uh! Watch me! Watch me run faster!” Then you race and you lose. That’s what this ridiculous stunt reminds me of.
They spent money on this bullshit. Actual money.
The McDonald's photo op is a startling reminder that some people see the jobs of hourly workers as trivial. Look how cute - even Donald Trump can serve French fries. Except that is false. Yes, anyone can go into a pretend restaurant with a full-time team following them around, catering to their every move, and have their photo taken.
Not everyone can work at McDonald's.
It’s one of the toughest jobs out there. I talk about retail 99% of the time, but restaurant work is wildly tough. Customers in retail can be challenging. Imagine what those customers are like when they’re hungry.
Over the past few years, videos have surfaced of customers throwing food and drinks at fast-food workers. Their behavior is gross and unacceptable. If anything proves to you that people think customer service work is beneath them, these videos are evidence.
Maybe this newsletter is political after all.
Every week, I call for justice, for higher wages, and for respect. I call for empathy, support, and optimism.
I want so badly for us all to rise. Why is that so tough?
I know why. It’s because capitalism has become advantageous for the rich. It’s made them wealthier. The middle class has been squeezed, and rich execs have become richer.
Venture capitalists and stockholders keep the leaders of the companies in which they invest on a short leash. They have one demand:
Make us more money.
They don’t seem to care how or who it hurts. They don’t care that the customer service now sucks in your store because payroll has been slashed. Why would they? They can take off their McDonald's costume after the photo op. Then, they can go home to a clean house cleaned by someone else. They can enjoy a meal made by someone else.
They have endless cash.
Because they’re in this very elite position, they think they’re better than us.
Our jobs are amusing to them.
Oh, how funny, I served French fries today; I’m hilarious. Florence, make me a martini, would you?
The joke is about to be on them.
We are the community
The one thing this year has served up to me over and over again is community.
People have rallied together from all over the country to share their stories, highlight abuse, raise alarms, and demand better.
When I hired for retail stores, I hired people who worked at McDonald's specifically because they had worked at McDonald's. I knew that if they could work there, they could work anywhere.
If you can handle a drive-thru, the public, beeping alarms, cooking food, and incoming orders for eight hours a day, you can succeed anywhere.
If you wear a uniform at work, wear it with pride. Not everyone can do your job.
We are your community.
If you work an hourly job, clock in with confidence. Do your thing, and then clock out and build something you love. We are your community.
The best communities are found in teams. They’re found in frontline teams who are in service to others. We’d do anything for each other.
Us Americans? We come from every country on this beautiful blue-green Earth.
I’m honored to live next to you. I’m honored to vote with you.
I’m honored to vote for people that don’t participate in fake workdays because they understand what a true hard day’s work entails.
I’ll see you at the polls, friends.
Kit Campoy is an author and retail expert with two decades of experience leading retail teams. Today, she freelance writes for world-class SaaS Retail Tech companies.
As someone who earned a “gold hat” from Fred Turner university, along with the standard Bachelor of Hamburgerology…this shit show if a campaign is the stupid thing ever. And it offends my career and all the work I have done.
Shut down a store, stand in the drive thru window, and answer questions from reporters.
I have an MBA now and accolades from several different business sectors, but I look at this guy and say: why would you follow him!?!?
Thank you for saying the things we are all thinking. The retail (and food service) dance we do so effortlessly others can not even fathom. His stunt is just another performance and an example of how little respect he has for pretty much everyone.