Former President Donald Trump said he had ‘no cognitive problem’ at a town hall event on Sunday – then fumbled through multiple gaffes before praising the looks of his interviewer.
‘Let’s have a little fun, Paige,’ Trump said right as his live town hall was set to begin – even though it was former ESPN anchor Sage Steele who was set to moderate the discussion. The Harris campaign immediately blasted out the clip.
Trump also claimed he heard someone say St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial was in the audience.
Musial died more than a decade ago, and it was Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser who was being referenced. Trump brought Meuser on stage after clearing up the situation.
Trump was interviewed by Sage Steele at a town hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he said candidates for president should face cognitive tests
Trump also complained that his chair was uncomfortable and abruptly stood up halfway through the interview, and described his age of 78 as ‘not that close to 80.’
Hours earlier, he was manning the fryer at a McDonald’s in suburban Philadelphia in a bid to troll Kamala Harris.
Trump renewed his call for the mental acuity tests after vouching for his own cognitive ability, pointing to his recent lengthy sit-down with the Wall Street editorial board. He said his conduct won plaudits from the writers.
‘The one thing we know is that he’s got no cognitive problem. She may have,’ Trump said, summing up their conclusion. He has repeatedly attacked Kamala Harris’ IQ and intelligence.
‘I have no cognitive – she may have a cognitive problem. But there’s no cognitive problem,’ Trump told Steele, a former ESPN anchor who asked him friendly questions at a town hall in central Pennsylvania organized by the Trump campaign.
‘And I actually call for a cognitive test for all people wanting to run for president. Not based on age. Some of the greatest leaders in the world – and I’m not 80 and I’m not that close to 80,’ Trump explained.
Trump is drying to drum up votes in Central Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, with another stop planned in Pittsburgh all on Sunday
‘In the Biden case, he’s 81 or 82.’ Then Trump brought up his meeting with News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch.
‘By the way a man who’s very successful is Rupert Murdoch and he’s 93 or 94. He’s sharp and he’s in his 90s’ said Trump.
‘I’ve done cognitive tests and I’ve aced both of them,’ Trump said, referencing a basic screening he has taken.
Describing his pitch for the tests as a requirement, he said: ‘They say it’s unconstitutional which I say is too bad or ridiculous.’
Age became a major issue earlier in the campaign after a series of gaffes by Biden, 81. Trump was the oldest president to serve when he was elected, a record that soon passed to Biden. Trump would be the oldest person to take the oath in January if reelected.
Trump showed one sign of his longevity when someone interrupted his town hall to mention a Pennsylvania Republican lawmaker.
Former President Donald Trump beams at the crowd during an event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
‘Stan Musial? Oh I see [Rep.] Dan Meuser. Is Dan here? I thought he said Stan Musial – Stan the Man, remember?’ Trump continued.
Musial, the St. Louis Cardinals great, died in 2013 at 92.
Trump seemed completely at ease during the questioning, joking with one audience member about her tattoo and another about his goatee.
But one thing he couldn’t tolerate was the furniture.
‘Let me get up. These are the most uncomfortable chairs. I think I’ll get up. There is no chair like that chair,’ Trump said, standing suddenly more than halfway through the interview.
It was a minor problem compared to what he’s been dealing with at live events. On Friday night in Detroit, his mic stopped functioning for more than 15 minutes, forcing Trump to pace the stage while the problem was fixed.
At another town hall days ago, Trump had aides play music for about 40 minutes rather than taking additional questions.
Age was on Trump’s mind after he was reminded that Sunday is Kamala Harris’s birthday while standing at the drive-thru McDonald’s in suburban Philadelphia.
‘It’s Kamala’s birthday? She’s 60 years old. I would say Happy Birthday, Kamala. She’s turning 60. I think I’ll get her some flowers. Maybe I’ll get her some fries. Give her some McDonald’s- I’ll get her a McDonald’s hamburger. Happy Birthday Kamala!’ Trump said – pronouncing her name correctly.
‘Stan Musial? Oh I see [Rep.} Dan Meuser. Is Dan here? I thought he said Stan Musial – Stan the Man, remember?’ Trump said during the town hall. Musial, the St. Louis Cardinals great, died in 2013 at 92
Trump once again expressed sympathy for former rival President Joe Biden, calling it a ‘coup’ when he stepped back under pressure from fellow Democrats.
After previously railing against Biden following his debate disaster, Trump was almost sympathetic. ‘We had a debate, and he didn’t do great in the debate, but that’s understand … Didn’t do well, and his poll numbers went down, but that’s okay, because you come back from that stuff.’
His comments about Biden reflect how the race was suddenly upended by Biden’s withdrawal. Now it is Trump, 28 years his rival’s senior, whose utterances are getting scrutinized for any sign of aging. Harris has done her best to turn on the spotlight by calling him ‘unhinged.’
Trump lavished praise on his interviewer’s skills during the event – as well as her looks, even while saying he probably shouldn’t.
‘She’s a brave woman. A great woman. Beautiful, too – but I’m not allowed to say that,’ Trump mused.
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Trump trolls Kamala at McDonald's Drive-thru
He said such a comment can be ‘the end of your political career. But she’s beautiful.’
He also heaped praise on prize-winning New York Times photographer Doug Mills when snappers came close to the stage to take pictures.
He called him ‘the only thing good about the New York Times.’
The interview came on a whirlwind day in Pennsylvania. Hours earlier, Trump passed through the golden arches and got behind the fryer at a McDonald’s in the Philadelphia suburbs – in a move designed to troll Kamala Harris.
‘I’m looking for a job. And I’ve always wanted to work at McDonald’s but I never did,’ Trump said as he introduced himself to franchise owner Derek Giacomantonio. ‘I’m running against somebody that said she did, but it turned out to be a totally phony story.’
‘So, if you don’t mind, I want to work the French fry counter. How much are you paying me?’ the billionaire ex-president said with a laugh.
Trump then proceeded to don a black and yellow apron and learn the process of making French fries at the Bucks County, Pennsylvania restaurant.
Trump also took a turn at the drive-thru counter – catering to a handful of prearranged ‘customers’ who were supporters. Trump said the meals were taken care of, which speeded processing.
‘I’m having a lot of fun here, everybody,’ he declared.
Former President Donald Trump grins as he chats with employees at a suburban Philadelphia McDonald’s on Sunday. Trump was taught how to make McDonald’s trademark French fries, in a move designed to troll Vice President Kamala Harris
Busy in the kitchen! Trump wore a McDonald’s apron as he grabbed to-go orders
Trump waved to crowds through the service window during his shift at the eatery
One stunned McDonald’s customer gasped as she was greeted by the 45th president
Asked about his own first summer job and entry-level positions, Trump told DailyMail.com through the drive-thru window: ‘It requires expertise, I’m going through the whole french fry stuff. It’s a whole process.’
‘I’ll never forget this experience,’ he said, without divulging anything about his time working for his father’s business.
He dodged most policy questions, including whether he backs an increase in the minimum wage. Asked what he’s getting paid, he quipped, ‘Not enough – I want more money.’
‘I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala,’ Trump said, revisiting his claim that his rival didn’t work at McDonald’s as a student as she says she did.
‘It’s a good job, isn’t it? Not bad. You have a nice owner?’ Trump asked inside the restaurant. ‘Be careful, he’s right there,’ the ex-president said with a laugh. ‘Be careful. Eight years, that’s the end of that.’
Dozens of Trump fans came out in force to watch the former president get greasy
With the boss looking on, the employee said that franchise owner, Giacomantonio, was great.
Asked by a reporter why Harris would lie about working at the restaurant, Trump replied, ‘Because she’s “lying Kamala,”‘ applying a moniker.
When a reporter through the window if he would accept the election results regardless of the outcome, Trump dodged. ‘Let’s not talk about that,’ he said, saying he would if it was fair.
During his extended turn at the drive-thru window, Trump found himself in customer service mode, answering repeated questions from reporters.
He even fielded a question from DailyMail.com about his latest chat with Benjamin Netanyahu, although he didn’t reveal anything about plans a potential IDF attack on Iran.
‘Bibi called me this morning. And he’s obviously got things going well. He likes to hear what I have to say,’ later clarifying that the call was Saturday.
Standing in his his blue apron with yellow straps, he wouldn’t say if Netanyahu would hold off on attacking Iran. ‘It would be very inappropriate. But they’re certainly in a better position, and fortunately they didn’t listen to Biden and Harris,’ he said. ‘They didn’t want him to do this,’ he said.
Trump even had birthday greetings for Harris when prompted.
‘It’s Kamala’s birthday? She’s 60 years old. I would say Happy Birthday, Kamala. She’s turning 60. I think I’ll get her some flowers. Maybe I’ll get her some fries. Give her some McDonald’s- I’ll get her a McDonald’s hamburger. Happy Birthday Kamala!’ Trump said – pronouncing her name correctly.
The GOP nominee got stuck in with the fry machine
Asked about his own first summer job and entry-level positions, Trump told DailyMail.com through the drive-thru window: ‘It requires expertise, I’m going through the whole french fry stuff. It’s a whole process’
Fries with that? Trump ended up fielding reporters’ questions from the drive-thru window
Roaring fans lined the street outside the McDonald’s
Trump even offered a few bags of fries to members of the press
He called some questions not appropriate to answer during his stint at the restaurant, but ended up speaking about whether he’d accept the results and Israel
Trump’s supporters got wind of the event and lined the street north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike long before Trump was set to appear. Tractor trailer trucks sounded their horns when they drove by hundreds of supporters who cheered and raised Trump flags.
Giacomantonio posted a sign on his store, announcing the closure and writing that ‘while we are not a political organization, we proudly open our doors to everyone.’ He said the visit gave the chance to ‘shine a light on the positive impact of small businesses.’
The Trump camp carefully shielded McDonald’s employees when they were outside the restaurant, and asked a photographer to delete images of them for security purposes.
The Republican nominee is spending the entire day campaigning in Pennsylvania, most likely a must-win state for him or Harris.
‘We’re going to the Pittsburgh game tonight. Pittsburgh Steelers. Should be good,’ said Trump at McDonald’s
The eastern part of the state roots for the Philadelphia Eagles, but there isn’t a strong rivalry between the teams.
Asked his favorite menu item, Trump – known for his love of fast food – responded: ‘I like it all … I like every ounce of it, everything. But I do like the French fries, where I’ll be working.’
Prior to the ex-president’s arrival, the first customer at the drive-thru was anything but random.
He identified himself to DailyMail.com only by his first name of Jim, and called himself a Trump supporter. He said he didn’t believe Harris ever worked at the chain. ‘I don’t believe her at all,’ he said.
Former President Donald Trump chose a McDonald’s in Bucks County, a battleground area of Pennsylvania, for his turn at the fryer
Former President Donald Trump makes French fries at a McDonald’s in suburban Philadelphia in a move to troll his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump insists Harris made up that she worked at a McDonald’s as a student in California
Workers smiled as they posed with Trump at the McDonald’s restaurant
As for his own order for a packed SUV, ‘I think we’re going to surprise with some chicken nuggets,’ he said.
A massive security presence guarded the fast-food stop. Secret Service agents and local law enforcement secured the exurban corridor, with snipers on a nearby roof.
The throngs of MAGA fans booed loudly when cars brandishing Harris-Walz flags occasionally drove buy. Fans let out chants of ‘Trump! Trump! Trump!’ in anticipation, even with little hope of catching a close-up glimpse of their favorite candidate.
The Trump campaign took extraordinary measures to control the event, letting in just a small ‘pool’ of reporters with no representative from print or online media for the photo-op. It was a sign of the high stakes of the symbolism the campaign is deploying in an effor to peel away Blue Wall states by prying away working class voters from the suburbs and exurbs.
Trump had been teasing the visit for weeks as a way to turn up the heat on his rival, as he did again at a rally in Latrobe near Pittsburgh Saturday night, when he once again accused his rival of faking her own claim to have worked there as a student.
Trump claimed she ‘lied about working at McDonald’s,’ then added: ‘That’s like not a big thing, but can I be honest with you, it’s terrible,’ he said at an event where he spoke about the size of golf legend Arnold Palmer’s manhood.
‘I’m going to McDonald’s to work the french fry,’ Trump said. ‘I think I’m doing it tomorrow, and I think it’s in a place in Pennsylvania, and I’m going to stand over that french fry.’
Trump’s team has also been raising doubts about Harris’s resume.
Trump senior advisor Jason Miller said Trump was doing the visit ‘so that one candidate in this race can actually have worked at McDonald’s.’
Trump supporters waited for hours for his McDonald’s visit
Armed agents lined a nearby roof
The owner posted a sign saying he welcomed all customers
‘Since Kamala Harris has not, President Trump by the end of tomorrow will have worked at McDonald’s. He’ll have done fries more than Kamala Harris ever has,’ he said. ‘I think it shows he connects with hard-working Americans.’
Harris has said did fries and worked the cash register at a California McDonald’s while she was a student at Howard University. Her campaign has said she worked at an Alameda franchise in 1983.
Harris also referenced her time working there in her 2019 presidential campaign. Her camp hasn’t furnished any photos of her youthful job there, although Trump has not provided any evidence that she lied about it.
Trump’s own jobs early in life were working for his father’s real estate company at construction sites and offices, which he did along with brothers Fred Jr. and Robert, according to the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.
It is just the latest effort by Trump to undermine Harris. In Atlanta last month and again during a podcast interview days ago, Trump raised questions about her racial identity (Harris’s father is from Jamaica and her mother was of Indian descent).
Kamala Harris said she worked the fries while using a job at McDonald’s to support her studies
Then-President Donald Trump speaks behind a table full of McDonald’s hamburgers, Chick fil-a sandwiches and other fast food as he welcomes the 2018 Football Division I FCS champs North Dakota State Bison in the Diplomatic Room of the White House on March 4, 2019 in Washington, DC COVID protocols impacted kitchens at the time
Donald Trump eating McDonald’s on his plane. It appears he ordered a Big Mac, a large french fries and a Diet Coke
Trump has good reason to be hitting Bucks county, located north of the city of Philadelphia.
It is a populous 'purple' county whose votes are up for grabs.
Hillary Clinton narrowly edged Trump there in 2016, beating him 48.4 to 47.6 percent.
Joe Biden widened the margin in 2020, garnering 52 percent of the vote.
Trump carried the state with its 19 electoral votes in 2016, but Biden snatched it from him in 2020, winning by just 1 percent of the vote.
Harris highlighted her time at mickey D's during the Democratic convention.
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She spoke about it again last week as Trump was accusing her of faking it.
'Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonald's is because there are people who work at McDonald's in our country who are trying to raise a family and pay rent on that,' she told MSNBC.
'And I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people, and what our responsibility then is to meet those needs.'
'But it was not a small job, like, I did the fries. I mean, you know, I did,' she said.
Trump has been building up the appearance since a rally in Reno October 10. '
'Do you know what I am doing next week? I am going to a McDonald's to work!' he told the crowd.
He mentioned it again in Arizona, saying he would work the fryer 'so I can see how hard her job that never turned out would be.'
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke to the closeness of the race on NBC's 'Meet the Press' Sunday.
''Well, I think if past is prologue, we're set for another close race here in Pennsylvania. Let me explain: 2016, the race was decided by 44,000 votes. Donald Trump won here in Pennsylvania. In 2020, the race was settled by 80,000 votes. Joe Biden won. In both instances, it came down to a point or less. So the fact that you have polls showing that it's, you know, a jump ball, a statistical dead heat, maybe Kamala Harris is up a point or so – that is not a shock,' he said.