A Pennsylvania McDonald's franchise, which recently hosted former President Donald Trump, has been compelled to retain private security due to threats.
The restaurant, located in Bucks County, became a focal point of attention and controversy after Trump's visit, during which he was seen operating the fry station and serving customers at the drive-thru. This unexpected turn of events led the franchise owner, Derek Giacomantonio, to take protective measures.
According to The Post Millennial, Jim Worthington, a key orchestrator of Trump's visit and leader of Pennsylvania's delegation at the Republican National Convention, revealed that the McDonald's outlet had been the recipient of menacing phone calls and social media messages following the former president's appearance. Consequently, Giacomantonio, who had prudently hired private security prior to the event, decided to continue their services to safeguard his employees.
Bucks County resident Jessica Miho provided a firsthand account of the heightened security at the McDonald's. "We walked in. It seemed fine. We ordered and we sat down, but then we looked to our left, and there were several armed guards just sitting there," Miho recounted to The Daily Caller. She further noted the vigilance of the guards, stating, "One of [the guards] stepped outside, and I saw him walking around our car...Then [my husband and I] are like, 'these guys are security; these guys are really watching and seeing what's going on.' It was then I made the connection [to Trump]."
Despite the threats, Worthington underscored the overwhelming support the restaurant has received from the community. "The community is really embracing it, and a lot of people have come in here since Sunday just to patronize the restaurant," he said. He also dispelled fears of a boycott, stating, "a lot of people anticipated [a boycott] would happen, because that is typical for some Democratic supporters to do, but [the business] hasn't been hurt."
Giacomantonio has reportedly been shouldering the security costs himself. "The guy has maintained the security there at his expense," Worthington explained. He added that Giacomantonio had declined offers to assist with the expenses, stating, "This is, sadly, a cost of doing business, but I value my employees and my customers so Im willing to bear that cost.
During his visit to the McDonald's, Trump interacted with employees and took drive-thru orders, seizing the opportunity to take a dig at Vice President Kamala Harris. "Now I have worked here. I've worked here for 15 minutes more than Kamala. She's never worked here... Why would she lie? She shouldn't lie about it. McDonald's confirmed that she's never worked here. But let's not talk about that. It's an amazing business and an amazing country," Trump said, alluding to Harris' past claim of working at McDonalds, a claim his campaign disputed and McDonalds has been unable to verify.
In the wake of the high-profile visit and subsequent backlash, McDonalds issued an internal message to employees affirming the companys political neutrality. The company, which Trump has frequently praised, stated, McDonalds does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next President. We are not red or blue we are golden, according to the Associated Press. This statement underscores the company's commitment to neutrality amidst the political whirlwind that has engulfed one of its franchises.
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