Donald Trump Promotes McDonald’s French Fry Certification Pin Amidst Natural Disaster Devastation

With the election nearing, the current political campaigning has reached new heights of absurdity.

A notable instance was when Trump appeared behind the fry station in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s. Chuck Edwards, a Representative, humorously presented Trump with a French Fry pin amid the wreckage from Hurricane Helene.

The Journey to the Fry Pin

Edwards: I own McDonald’s, and I know you honed your skills behind the counter not long ago, so it’s my honor to award President Trump the French Fry certification pin pic.twitter.com/s7Up4ghaIG

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 21, 2024

On Sunday, October 20, Trump donned an apron at a McDonald’s and worked the fry station. He even conducted an impromptu press briefing from the drive-thru window, still wearing the apron, expressing his surprise that people use utensils for fries and asserting he would honor the November election’s outcomes “if it’s a fair election.”

This bizarre display seems to be a response to Kamala Harris, who shared her experience of working at a McDonald’s during her college years, which Trump has labeled as a fabrication. The distinction between needing to work at McDonald’s and performing a staged act under media scrutiny is significant. Many McDonald’s employees criticized Trump’s visit, calling it “insulting cosplay,” while the McDonald’s location itself faced a surge of negative reviews on Yelp.

The following day, October 21, Trump traveled to a town near Asheville, North Carolina, significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene. He held a press conference right in front of the visible ruin of other buildings.

However, the focus was again far from the urgent needs of the local community. Instead, Rep. Chuck Edwards sought a lighter moment by circling back to Trump’s McDonald’s visit. “For those who missed it, I own McDonald’s franchises, and I can vouch that you mastered your fry skills just recently. It was an honor to give President Trump the French Fry Certification Pin,” he remarked.

Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. Joe Biden received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Kamala Harris was named Time Person of the Year. Donald Trump got a French Fry certification pin.? pic.twitter.com/EdMggn4FhG

— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) October 21, 2024

Notably, Edwards inadvertently revealed his wealth by discussing his McDonald’s ownership while addressing a community in severe need of assistance. Instead of addressing local hardships, he celebrated giving a badge to a millionaire. Trump accepted the pin with a smirk, pocketing it as he said, “Thank you very much, that’s very nice,” before quickly returning to the podium. Is a “French Fries Certification Pin” even a standard accolade for typical McDonald’s workers? Most likely not.

This Moment Defines the Campaign

— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) October 22, 2024

As the press conference began to focus more on relevant issues, Trump falsely claimed that FEMA had exhausted its budget for “illegal migrants” at the expense of disaster recovery.

In reality, the funding for FEMA’s border-related expenses and disaster relief are distinct and allocated separately. One of those who debunked Trump’s statements was none other than Chuck Edwards, the same representative who honored Trump with the French Fry pin. He clarified on his website that, “FEMA has NOT redirected disaster response funding to the border or foreign aid.”

However, Edwards refrained from mentioning this during his time alongside Trump. Instead, it was all cordial smiles and gratitude, topped off with those quirky French Fries Certification Pins.

The surrealism surrounding the French Fries Certification Pin symbolizes a broader issue, capturing the essence of Trump’s campaign perfectly. Many citizens in hurricane-stricken areas lean conservative, and they stand right before him as he barely acknowledges their plight. Instead, he accepts an award for a stunt that took place elsewhere.

“Tone deaf” fails to encapsulate the full scope of the outrage. This moment reflects a stark reminder of the nature of American campaigns, where tragedies are merely resources for publicity. Furthermore, Trump, who is quite wealthy, accepts the pin and departs, while Edwards expresses gratitude for his presence amidst the devastation.

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