The McDonald’s restaurant in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, was closed, but across the street, a crowd of hundreds had gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was happening inside. Former United States President Donald Trump was there, wearing an oversized, yellow-trimmed apron instead of his usual suit jacket, engaging in a photo opportunity. He stood over the deep fryer, salted the fries, and handed out the finished products through the drive-through window to pre-screened customers in cars, with cameras clicking away. Trump took a jab at his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, who had worked at McDonald’s as a student, by saying he had worked there for 15 minutes longer than she did. This stunt was not only a way to tease his opponent but also Trump’s latest attempt to connect with the working class, a crucial part of the US electorate. As the middle class in the US continues to decline, working-class and low-income individuals are becoming a larger share of voters. Trump has a strong appeal to this demographic, with many seeing him as a symbol of prosperity. In a 2023 poll, Trump was chosen by 44 percent of working-class voters as the president who had done the most for working families in the past 30 years, compared to only 12 percent who chose President Joe Biden. Despite his background as the son of a real estate mogul and his controversial statements about wages and overtime, Trump has managed to present himself as a champion of the working class. His base of non-college-educated, working-class voters responds to his style, seeing him as one of them. This appeal has been a consistent advantage for Trump since his first presidential campaign in 2016. On the other hand, Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s opponent in the upcoming election, has struggled to connect with working-class voters. Many feel that the Democratic Party has neglected issues like globalisation, leading to job losses in key swing states. This sense of resentment and betrayal has driven many working-class voters into Trump’s camp, despite his own wealthy background. The polarised media landscape and spread of misinformation on social media have further complicated the situation, making it difficult for voters to discern fact from fiction. Harris faces the challenge of being perceived as part of the political elite, despite her middle-class upbringing. Although she has proposed policies aimed at the middle class, low-income voters remain skeptical of promises made by Democrats in the past. Economic mobility is a key issue for working-class voters, and Trump’s focus on the economy may give him an edge in appealing to this demographic in the upcoming election.
