Fact check: Did Vice President Kamala Harris ever work at McDonald's?

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump decided to take over a McDonald's kitchen in Pennsylvania over the weekend, serving up fries in a battleground state. His stint was meant to be a jab at Kamala Harris, who claims to have worked at a McDonald's during the summer of 1983 while she was a student at Howard University. 

Trump and his camp have time and again without any proof called Harris' recollection a "fake story." While working behind the counter at the Feasterville franchise, the GOP nominee even joked, "I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala."

So, let's dig a little deeper into the McDonald's story. 

McDonald's can't confirm Kamala Harris' claims

Kamala Harris' claim goes back to 2019 when she told a crowd of fast-food workers that she worked at a McDonald’s during college. Earlier this year, she brought it up again on 'The Drew Barrymore Show', saying she "did fries" at the restaurant. 

It turns out that McDonald’s doesn’t have the documentation to confirm if Harris was indeed part of their crew in Alameda County, California, in the early 1980s. They shared this tidbit in a memo to their franchisees on the day Trump decided to take over a McDonald's kitchen. 

"We and our franchisees don't have records for all positions dating back to the early '80s," noted the fast food giant. But while they don’t have records to prove her claim, they’re not exactly shutting the door on the possibility either.

McDonald's said they have been "proud to hear" Harris' fond memories of working under the Golden Arches. 

A copy of this internal memo ended up on social media thanks to an anonymous McDonald's franchise, and it didn’t take long for the Wall Street Journal to confirm its authenticity. 

Moreover, McDonald’s extended an invite to Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to swing by one of their restaurants. They wanted to show them firsthand how the company "provides meaningful pathways to economic opportunity and feeds and fosters local communities."

McDonald's helps Kamala Harris connect with the working class

Kamala Harris' campaign stands by her story, saying she worked at a McDonald's on Central Avenue in Alameda, California, during the summer of 1983, right after her freshman year at Howard University. But they haven’t been able to dig up any proof, like an old pay stub or a photo in that famous McDonald's uniform.

And good luck getting any inside scoop from the current employees at that Alameda location—they’re keeping things under wraps. When the Daily Mail reached out, one employee simply told the outlet, "I’m sorry, I don’t have any information."

It’s not just the McDonald's crew staying tight-lipped. A copy of Harris' post-college resume makes no mention of a summer job at McDonald's, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon.

The vice president has been using this story to point out her working-class roots, reminding voters that she’s been where they’ve been.

"You have a vice president who always thought of the middle class...when she was in college she had a job at McDonald's while she was getting her degree," told her Deputy Communications Director Brooke Goren to reporters back in June. 

During her interview with MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle, Harris doubled down on her claims and said, "Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonald's is because there are people who work at McDonald's in our country who are trying to raise a family. I worked there as a student."

She added, "I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility, then, is to meet those needs." 

McDonald's plays it cool

McDonald's is doing their best to keep things friendly, even throwing some compliments Donald Trump’s way. In their mem, they mentioned being "proud to hear former President Trump’s love for" their food right alongside Harris' "fond memories working under the Arches."

“While we and our franchisees don’t have records for all positions dating back to the early ’80s, what makes ‘1 in 8’ so powerful is the shared experience so many Americans have had," added the company.

The fast food giant was referencing the famous "1 in 8" statistic—that one out of every eight Americans has worn a McDonald's hat at some point in their life, as per the New York Post.

And about Trump's stint? McDonald's said one of their franchisees in Pennsylvania got the OK from local law enforcement before letting the former president take a turn at the fry station.

"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," asserted the company.

From Harris' summer job recollection to Trump's fast-food stint, the Golden Arches have become a surprising talking point on the campaign trail. "While we’ve not sought this, it’s a testament to how much McDonald’s resonates with so many Americans," declared McDonald's in the memo.