Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Trump cashes in on McDonald’s stunt with new ‘MAGADonald’s’ merch

Trump’s campaign offers the MAGA crowd a ‘McGift’: a $100 T-shirt featuring a photo of the Republican president candidate waving from a Golden Arches drive-thru

James Liddell
Tuesday 22 October 2024 11:29 BST
Comments
Related: Donald Trump serves up french fries at McDonald’s in Pennsylvania

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Donald Trump has sought to cash in on his McDonald’s stunt by releasing a new, limited edition line of “MAGADonald’s” merchandise.

The former president attempted to troll Kamala Harris by manning a fryer at a drive-thru in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, on Sunday as he continues to claim the vice president is lying about working at the fast food chain as a summer job in the early 1980s.

And now, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have rolled out a new, limited edition piece of apparel to commemorate the day: a MAGADonald’s T-shirt.

“True Trump patriots” can purchase the white top brandished with Trump donning an apron and waving from the McDonald’s drive-thru window, featuring the “MAGADonald’s” slogan in the fast food giant’s red and gold brand colors.

The eagle-eyed shoppers can also spot Trump’s quiff sitting atop the slogan’s “D.”

“I HAVE A McGIFT FOR YOU!,” read a fundraising email, with the same slogan splashed across the top of the fundraising website. The so-called gift, however, is not free, with the website suggesting a donation of $100 in exchange for the T-shirt.

“I am the first and only 2024 presidential nominee to work at McDonald’s,” it continues. “But thanks to Kamala, prices for a meal are through the roof!”

The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee were quick to try and earn a buck from the former president’s McDonald’s visit
The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee were quick to try and earn a buck from the former president’s McDonald’s visit (Trump campaign/Republican National Committee)

The merch adds to the Republican presidential candidate’s online store offering already consisting of $55 Make America Great Again baseball caps and a $499 pair of golden “fight, fight, fight” sneakers.

McDonald’s has attempted to distance itself from the Trump campaign and said in a statement that it does not endorse candidates for elected office following his visit.

The former president, without evidence, has repeatedly claimed that Harris has never worked at the fast food restaurant.

On October 10, Trump told rallygoers in Reno, Nevada, that he would make a pit stop at the Golden Arches.

Trump uses fryer next to an employee during his visit to McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose on Sunday
Trump uses fryer next to an employee during his visit to McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose on Sunday (AP)

Instead of ordering his one-time 2,400kcal order of choice – two Big Macs, two Fillet-O-Fish, and a chocolate milkshake – the former president declared he was “going to a McDonald’s to work”.

The McDonald’s loyalist, whose campaign allegedly spent $31,000 at the fast food chain in the last 18 months, also claimed his minutes-long stint would mean he’d “have worked longer and harder at McDonald’s” than Harris.

On Sunday afternoon, Trump spent just minutes donning an apron and serving up fries during a roughly hour-long photoshoot.

“I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala,” Trump told reporters, throwing a jab at Harris.

Trump also declared that he would cover the cost of all food served to supporters: “Trump is paying for it… This is all on Trump, am I allowed to do that?”

The former president added that he enjoyed his mini-shift and would consider coming back and doing it again.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in