The impending return of the Trump team to Washington, D.C., has reignited concerns about potential clashes between political figures and the city’s restaurant scene. History suggests that dining experiences for Trump administration officials and their allies may be punctuated by protests and acts of resistance from residents who strongly oppose their political stances. This anticipated tension echoes similar incidents during the Trump administration’s first term, which saw several high-profile confrontations involving officials being heckled, refused service, or otherwise harassed while dining out. These incidents highlight the deep political divisions within the nation’s capital and raise questions about the boundaries of acceptable political expression in public spaces.
One prominent example of such a confrontation occurred in September 2018, when Senator Ted Cruz and his wife were forced to leave Fiola, an upscale Italian restaurant, after being targeted by protesters who opposed Cruz’s support for then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated online, underscored the intensity of feelings surrounding the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings and the willingness of some individuals to confront political figures directly. This incident was not an isolated event but rather part of a broader pattern of protests targeting Trump administration officials and allies during the summer of 2018.
Several other incidents further illustrate this trend. In June 2018, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was confronted by protesters at MXDC Cocina Mexicana over the administration’s family separation policy at the U.S.-Mexico border. The protests, which involved chanting and accusations, led to Nielsen’s departure from the restaurant. The same month, Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser, described an unsettling experience in which he was subjected to a hostile gesture from a restaurant employee after picking up a takeout order. The incident, which led Miller to discard the food out of concern for tampering, highlights the potential for such confrontations to escalate beyond mere verbal exchanges.
These confrontations extended beyond the confines of Washington, D.C. In a widely publicized incident, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, then-White House press secretary, was asked to leave The Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia, due to the owner’s opposition to the administration’s policies. This incident sparked a national debate about the rights of businesses to refuse service based on political beliefs and the implications of such actions for civil discourse.
Recent reports suggest that similar tensions are anticipated with the return of the Trump team to Washington. Interviews with hospitality workers in the city indicate a prevailing sentiment of resistance towards prominent Republican figures, with some individuals expressing a willingness to engage in disruptive actions. One restaurant veteran, Zac Hoffman, questioned the feasibility of prominent Republicans dining undisturbed in the city, suggesting that confrontations might be inevitable. This sentiment reflects the deep-seated political divisions that continue to characterize the nation’s capital and the potential for these divisions to manifest in public spaces like restaurants.
However, not all hospitality workers share the same perspective. Some, like a bartender identified as Joseph, while expressing disappointment with election results, acknowledged the potential for increased earnings due to the influx of Republicans into the city. This perspective highlights the complex interplay of political sentiments and economic considerations within the service industry. While some workers may be motivated by political convictions to express their disapproval, others may prioritize the financial benefits associated with serving a larger clientele, regardless of their political affiliations. This divergence of opinions underscores the nuanced responses within the hospitality sector to the presence of politically polarizing figures.
