As the Trump team prepares for a second term in Washington, D.C., area restaurants are once again becoming a battleground for political tensions. Food workers within the Beltway are gearing up to potentially refuse service and create disruptions for members of the incoming administration.
This is not the first time that the Trump administration and its allies have faced such confrontations while dining out. In a notable incident in September 2018, Senator Ted Cruz and his wife were harassed at an upscale Italian restaurant in D.C. over Cruz's support for then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Protesters shouted at the couple, leading them to leave the establishment.
Similar incidents occurred in June 2018, when then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen was confronted at a Mexican restaurant over the administration's family separation policy. Senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller also faced hostility when a bartender made a rude gesture towards him.
Another incident involved the owner of a restaurant in Virginia asking then-White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave due to opposition to the administration's immigration policies.
Industry veterans and hospitality workers in D.C. expressed varying opinions on the matter. While some viewed resistance against Republican figures as a matter of conscience, others like bartender Joseph looked forward to potentially higher tips with more Republicans in the city.
Overall, the restaurant scene in Washington, D.C., continues to be a focal point for political tensions and expressions of dissent, highlighting the intersection of food, politics, and public discourse in the nation's capital.
