Donald Trump offered “food for everyone” at his McDonald’s press conference and then left without paying.
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Customers react as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump hands them an order at a drive-thru window during a campaign stop at a McDonald's, Oct. 20, 2024, in Feasterville-Trevose, Pa. (AP)
Denied free fries? No, Trump didn’t dupe McDonald’s customers out of a free meal
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A Guardian headline that says, "Trump offers ‘food for everyone’ at restaurant - then leaves without paying," is unrelated to former President Donald Trump’s McDonald’s campaign stop. It is an old article from June 2023 that says Trump yelled, "Food for everyone!" at the Cuban restaurant Versailles in Miami, and then left without buying anyone food.
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Trump made a campaign stop at a McDonald’s in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20. He gave out paper bags to prescreened people in the drive-through, The Washington Post reported.
In an unconventional move, former President Donald Trump held a press conference while working Oct. 20 at a McDonald’s drive-thru. Some social media users have inaccurately claimed Trump promised people at the restaurant a free meal but left them holding the bags, and the tab.
"The MAGA McDonald’s franchisee who let Trump use his restaurant for a publicity stunt, was left paying the bill for meals that Trump said he would pay for," reads a Threads post with a screenshot of a headline from The Guardian that says, "Trump offers ‘food for everyone at restaurant – then leaves without paying."
Screenshot from Threads
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The headline is real, but it’s about an incident last year at another restaurant. The Guardian story from June 2023 describes Trump entering a Cuban restaurant in Miami called Versailles after he pleaded not guilty to mishandling classified documents. The Republican presidential nominee reportedly said, "Food for everyone!" before leaving the restaurant without buying anyone food.
Trump made a campaign stop Oct. 20 at a McDonald’s in Feasterville, Pennsylvania. The restaurant was closed to the public during the event, but Trump staffed the french fry station and gave out paper bags to prescreened people in the drive-thru, The Washington Post reported.
We rate the claim that Trump offered "food for everyone" at his McDonald’s press conference and then left without paying False.
Our Sources
Threads post (archived), Oct. 21, 2024
The Guardian, Trump offers ‘food for everyone’ at restaurant – then leaves without paying, June 15, 2023
Miami New Times, That Time Donald Trump Promised "Food for Everyone" at Versailles, June 14, 2023
The Washington Post, Trump serves McDonald’s fries to supporters in stage-managed campaign stop, Oct. 20, 2024
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Denied free fries? No, Trump didn’t dupe McDonald’s customers out of a free meal
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