Former US President Bill Clinton surprised staff and customers during Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ campaign stop in Georgia when he walked into a local McDonald’s.
Dressed casually in jeans and a bomber jacket, Clinton, once the most powerful man in the world, encountered an unexpected situation when the clerk at the counter initially failed to recognize him.
As Clinton approached the counter, the worker stared, trying to place the familiar face. Taking the confusion in stride, the 78-year-old Democrat extended his hand in greeting.
While other employees quickly realized who it was, some pulling out their phones to capture the moment, Clinton kept her focus on the puzzled staff member. After a few moments, he clicked and the woman behind the counter beamed, exclaiming, “Oh my god!” before enthusiastically hugging the former president.
What could have been an awkward encounter quickly turned into a heart-warming one as more photo phones came out and laughter filled the restaurant. A man in the background was heard saying: “This is huge, everyone!”
A video of the incident was released on X by Clinton’s deputy chief of staff.
Clinton’s visit to McDonald’s revived memories of his well-known fondness for the fast-food chain in his youth. The Golden Arches were a frequent stop for him during his presidency.
He revisited the subject during the his speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, when he joked with Kamala Harris, who worked at the Golden Arches in her teenage years, potentially breaking his record for a president spending the most time at McDonald’s.
The former president’s love of McDonald’s was famously parodied on “Saturday Night Live,” with comedian Phil Hartman portraying Clinton in a famous skit in which he eats customers’ food while cracking jokes.
Clinton has since traded in burgers and fries for a mostly vegan diet following her quadruple bypass surgery, according to The Washington Post.
