惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 Corp. agreed to at a Pennsylvania store over the weekend but said it isnB次元官网网址檛 endorsing a candidate in the U.S. presidential race.
Trump staffed the fry station at a in suburban Philadelphia on Sunday before answering questions through the drive-thru window. The restaurant was closed to the public for the Republican nomineeB次元官网网址檚 visit.
In a message to employees obtained Monday by The Associated Press, 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 said the owner-operator of the location, Derek Giacomantonio reached out after he learned of TrumpB次元官网网址檚 desire to visit a Pennsylvania restaurant. 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 agreed to the event.
B次元官网网址淯pon learning of the former presidentB次元官网网址檚 request, we approached it through the lens of one of our core values: we open our doors to everyone,B次元官网网址� the company said. B次元官网网址湶殉Χ俅遣圆贡艋錌次元官网网址檚 does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next president. We are not red or blue B次元官网网址� we are golden.B次元官网网址�
The Chicago burger giant said franchisees have also invited Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, to their restaurants. The Associated Press left a message seeking comment with the Harris campaign.
惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 said it has B次元官网网址渂een a fixture of conversation this election cycleB次元官网网址� even though it hasnB次元官网网址檛 sought that attention. At several campaign stops and during interviews, Harris has for spending money during her college years. Trump has claimed B次元官网网址� without evidence B次元官网网址� that Harris is lying.
惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 sidestepped that issue in its employee message. The company said it is proud of B次元官网网址淗arrisB次元官网网址檚 fond memories working under the archesB次元官网网址� and noted the often-cited figure that 1 in 8 Americans works at 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 at some point.
B次元官网网址淲hile we and our franchisees donB次元官网网址檛 have records for all positions dating back to the early B次元官网网址�80s, what makes B次元官网网址�1 in 8B次元官网网址� so powerful is the shared experience so many Americans have had,B次元官网网址� 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 said.
TrumpB次元官网网址檚 appearance led to some backlash on social media. Google searches for B次元官网网址渂oycott 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚B次元官网网址� briefly surged Monday morning, and some Twitter users vowed to the chain after TrumpB次元官网网址檚 event.
But Lori Rosen, president of the public relations firm Rosen Group, said 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 wonB次元官网网址檛 likely see long-term damage from the event.
B次元官网网址淭he coverage and publicity alone generated from 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 agreeing to have former President Trump work at one of their franchises already surpasses the negative chatter on social media ,B次元官网网址� Rosen said. B次元官网网址淚 am not sure if the American people will benefit from this publicity stunt. However, 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲B次元官网网址檚 comes out ahead.B次元官网网址�
Bruce Newman, a professor in business ethics and marketing at DePaul UniversityB次元官网网址檚 Driehaus College of Business, agrees.
B次元官网网址淭hey look like the company thatB次元官网网址檚 getting the attention of the presidential candidates, and it heightens the awareness of the brand,B次元官网网址� he said.
Newman added that Trump was likely trying to put a different, more casual face on his campaign, wearing a smile and an apron instead of a suit jacket.
Dee-ann Durbin, The Associated Press
