The presidential candidate has repeatedly claimed the alleged work experience in an attempt to connect with low-wage workers.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has repeatedly claimed that she worked at McDonald’s while getting her undergraduate degree in the 1980s. This claim has been reported by multiple reputable news outlets, but aside from Harris’ own testimony, there is no independent evidence such as a photo, employment record, or confirmation from a friend or family member to verify the story. Harris has invoked the alleged McDonald’s work experience throughout her political career, including in a 2024 presidential campaign ad and during a 2024 appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show.” Other prominent Democrats, such as former President Bill Clinton, have also repeated the anecdote. However, some internet users have challenged the claim, with unverified reports that “McDonald’s Corporate sources” have no record of Harris working at their locations. Snopes reached out to Harris’ campaign and McDonald’s headquarters seeking evidence to corroborate the claim, but as of the report’s publication, no such proof has been uncovered. Without tangible evidence to independently confirm or debunk the story, Snopes has rated the claim “Research In Progress” as they continue to investigate.

  • HappyTimeHarry@lemm.eeEnglish
    49·
    2 months ago

    Can they actually prove anyone worked at McDonalds that long ago? Aside from saving a pay stub for 40 years I don’t see how one could prove or disprove such a thing, I doubt the company keeps records of every employee that far back.

    • okwhateverdude@lemmy.worldEnglish
      33·
      2 months ago

      She could have worked for a franchisee, too. If that was the case, a SMB owner is definitely not going to have those records after all this time

      • AdamEatsAss@lemmy.world
        19·
        2 months ago

        Assuming that franchise is still even open. How long does the US gov hold onto tax returns? The IRS says there’s usually no need to keep them after 6 years. The best evidence they could find would probably be a coworker that corroborates the story or a photograph of Harris behind the counter working. The photo seems unlikely, and how many coworkers from 30 years ago do you remember?

        • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
          81·
          2 months ago

          The Social Security Administration has a record of every employer that’s ever paid you and how much they paid you each year.

          They have to for paying out social security.

          • abff08f4813c@j4vcdedmiokf56h3ho4t62mlku.srv.us
            32·
            2 months ago

            So I actually tried this recently. Everything is done by paper and mail - even though I visited the office in person, they just mail it onwards.

            Also, despite having an expected turnaround of six months officially, it turns out that wait times of multiple years are not uncommon once the request is submitted. So even if Harris submitted a request right now the election would be long over before she would have a copy of the records to prove it either way.

    • norimee@lemmy.world
      14·
      2 months ago

      I can’t think of any way how I could proof the first job I had during school in the late 90’s. I was working in a restaurant kitchen, peeling potatoes and stuff. You don’t take photos there or keep name tags or other keepsakes. It was a shitty job, you want to forget about it, as soon as you left the premises.

      Kamala Harris’ job is even longer ago. 40 years is a long time to keep paystubs or something. There were no camera phones back then, no digital footprint you could recreate. That she can’t produce any proof, doesn’t proof anything.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      104·
      2 months ago

      Social security records.

      90s is nothing, a normal person could get it in a month, one of her aids could probably get it in an hour.

      Does it matter tho?

      Eh, it would be fucked up if she just flat out lied, but it’s hard to imagine she would lie about that.

      If she proves it tho, they’ll make a new stupid claim and if she doesn’t prove it they’ll use this as evidence that she would prove it if it wasn’t true.

      • odelik@lemmy.today
        16·
        2 months ago

        How to know when OP is unhinged and divisive:

        People are agreeing with givesomefucks, who often gets down voted for unpopular views.

        • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
          22·
          2 months ago

          It’s like when people think that them walking by causing street lights to go out.

          We’re pattern recognition machines, and we have certain biases. People don’t notice all the streetlights that are working, just the ones that flicker. Either it happens right next to you, or you don’t notice.

          Chances are you’re only looking at usernames when it’s really down voted. With the rare exception this time.

          I bet if your scrolled thru my post history, you’ve up voted me more than youve down voted me.

      • abff08f4813c@j4vcdedmiokf56h3ho4t62mlku.srv.us
        32·
        2 months ago

        Social security records. 90s is nothing, a normal person could get it in a month

        I tried this and it takes ages. I applied back on July 1st and haven’t heard a peep yet - apparently this can take many months or sometimes even years.