**Political Campaigns Flaunt McDonald's Connections, Sparking Wide Attention**

The spotlight of the presidential campaign is focusing intensely on McDonald's this year, with Donald Trump slated for a campaign stop at the famous fast-food chain in Pennsylvania this Sunday, as revealed by a source aware of the event's planning. At a recent rally, Trump intrigued the audience by announcing his intention to "work the french fry job for about a half an hour" to get firsthand experience.

CNN initially reported the potential visit, which ties into a broader attempt by Trump to discredit Vice President Kamala Harris's claims of having worked at McDonald's during a summer job. Trump's allegations challenge Harris’s long-standing narrative about her employment at the restaurant, asserting without evidence that she never worked there.

This rivalry underscores the importance of McDonald's in American culture, with the fast-food giant noting that nearly 90% of Americans patronize it at least once a year. The chain's significance as a campaign stop is evident from similar instances, like Bill Clinton's recent visit to a McDonald's in Georgia, where he even shared a warm hug with an employee.

Industry experts told Yahoo Finance that the heightened political focus is unlikely to affect McDonald's financial performance. The company's stock has reached an all-time high of over $310, indicating market confidence despite the political limelight.

McDonald’s did not comment when approached by Yahoo Finance regarding the ongoing political attention or Harris's employment history. Vice President Harris often references her time at McDonald's in her campaign speeches, emphasizing how the job gave her insight into the struggles of working-class Americans. The relatable story resonates with many, as McDonald's reports that one in eight Americans has worked there at some point in their lives.

Nevertheless, Trump continues to claim Harris never worked at McDonald's, twisting a detail from a Washington Free Beacon story to support his argument. Despite these attacks, Harris has largely refrained from responding, though the debate has reignited media interest and sparked conversations about the broader implications of working at the chain.

Regardless of political affiliations, McDonald's benefits from the increasing attention. Campaign finance records analyzed by The Washington Post reveal Trump's campaign has spent around $31,000 at the chain since January 2023. Clinton’s recent visit in Georgia, meant to bolster support for Harris, was notable for a video capturing an affectionate moment between Clinton and a McDonald's employee, providing a nostalgic callback to his earlier, more open admiration for the fast-food chain.