1. The Incident: Donald Trump’s Visit to McDonald’s in Feasterville-Trevose
Donald Trump has long been known for his love of fast food, particularly McDonald’s, with references to his affinity for Big Macs and fries becoming a well-documented part of his persona. During his presidency, Trump’s McDonald’s orders made headlines, and in the years following his tenure, the former president has continued to connect with his supporters in unique ways. One of these ways happened to involve serving fries at a McDonald’s restaurant in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania.
The exact details of why Trump chose to stop by this specific McDonald’s on this particular Sunday remain speculative, though it’s believed the visit was part of his ongoing efforts to engage with communities ahead of potential 2024 election considerations. As with many public appearances by Trump, this visit quickly attracted attention, with people flocking to social media platforms like Yelp to leave their thoughts.
However, the bulk of this commentary had little to do with the food or the service at the Feasterville-Trevose McDonald’s. Instead, the reviews became polarized and politically charged, with some people lauding the restaurant for its “connection” to the former president, while others criticized the establishment for allowing Trump to make a spectacle of himself. As a result, Yelp was forced to intervene.
2. Yelp’s Role in Managing Online Reviews
Yelp is one of the most popular platforms for customers to share reviews about their experiences at restaurants, shops, and service-oriented businesses. However, Yelp is also no stranger to “review bombing”, a phenomenon where users flood a page with comments and ratings for reasons unrelated to actual customer experiences. Often, this occurs when a business becomes linked to a news event or a public figure, and people use the platform to express their views on the event rather than the business itself.
When it comes to political figures, Donald Trump has been a recurring source of review activity for businesses. Restaurants, hotels, and other establishments associated with him or that have hosted him in the past have all experienced a similar surge in reviews, many of which are politically motivated.