Donald Trump and the Dignity of Work

Trump at McDonald’s was more than just a campaign stop.

This is a busy day (and week) for me. That I will take my own advice . . .

. . . and vote early and in person as Texas early voting begins today is only a small part of it.  So I was debating whether I really had time to post.  But I have to post something about Trump’s winsome time working at McDonald’s yesterday.

I do think it was brilliant politically.  It was much more than trolling Kamala Harris’ unlikely claim of having worked at McD’s.  Trump demonstrated humility and diligence as he cheerfully took instructions from the young man training him at the fryer.  He clearly enjoyed his brief shift.  And the way people responded to him spoke volumes — the costumers so happy to pick up their food from him at the drive-through window, the blocks of crowds in the streets.  The time said a lot about Trump and a lot about his support.  And, yes, I think he increased his support yesterday.

Which of course frustrates Trump haters to no end.  The following bad take especially misses the mark.

No, first, there is a big difference between humble and humiliating.  Now it may seem absurd to say Trump of all people is humble.  But to be so cheerful taking instructions and serving costumers at least shows humility.  He was not humiliated precisely because he was humble instead.  And part of Trump’s appeal is that he is humble enough to be himself and make fun of himself in a variety of settings.

But there is a more fundamental way in which the above take is off target.  Trump demonstrated the dignity of work, all legitimate work.  As Martin Luther said, one can be a ditch digger to the glory of God.  Work was part of the glory of the Garden of Eden.  Yes, part of the curse of the Fall is that work got harder and often frustrating, but work and its inherent creativity retained its God-given dignity. Really work is part of the image of God; it reflects God the Creator.

I doubt Trump has thought that through.  But yesterday he demonstrated that he gets it.  He gets the dignity of work and of workers, including McDonald’s fry cooks.

Robert M. Sterling said it well:

Jokes aside, this is one of the most meaningful gestures I’ve ever seen from a political leader. Donald Trump is showing Americans through his actions—not just telling them with words—that every worker is important, that every job matters, and that there’s dignity in all labor, from serving fries to selling cars to structuring balance sheets.

Trump isn’t pretending to be something he isn’t—he didn’t “grow up in a middle-class family”; he’s a guy who owns hotels, golf courses, and a Boeing 757 with gold-plated toilet handles—but he’s also not pandering or putting on an act. He’s just authentically being who he always is and who he always will be, for better or for worse: The Donald; the guy who develops the same instant rapport and bonhomie with titans of industry and fast-food workers alike; the only president of our lifetime who knows that America doesn’t win unless ALL Americans win, whether they’re fry cooks, executives, shareholders, or anything in between.

You can’t fake something like this. It’s either who you are, or it’s something you’ll never be able to pull off. Trump—somehow—has it. And, because of that, this is the guy I trust to fight for my community and for my businesses.

More importantly, though, this is the guy I trust to fight for the people making $14/hour down the street. They deserve it.

I cannot say it better than that.

And with that, I’ve got work to do.  So long for now.