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.

  • okwhateverdude@lemmy.worldEnglish
    33·
    3 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·
      3 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·
        3 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·
          3 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.