That’s exactly what former President Donald Trump did on Friday when he dined at this seafood restaurant just blocks from the White House. His presence drew throngs of supporters and protesters alike. Specifically, during those days when he stole the headlines by dining with future political stars such as JD Vance and Vice President Pete Hegseth. Phrased or misphrased awards aside, the bitter political atmosphere that had sprung up around his visit only increased the drama surrounding the event.
Over the course of that dinner, Trump pushed for deploying the National Guard. He led the fight to police force that would federalize the police in the African capital. Then, he indulged in an extraordinary crab, shrimp, salad, steak and dessert feast. Simultaneously, he conversed with activists protesting inside the establishment.
Protesters gathered nearby, chanting slogans such as, “Free DC! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!” Their presence unmasked the painful and harmful contrast in U.S. policy. This has been magnified in the current series of conflicts surrounding Israel in their actions against Hamas in Gaza. The former president didn’t seem intimidated as he approached the jeering crowd. He stopped a few dozen feet away, nodding and smiling — but deciding not to answer their chants. Soon after he moved his arm for them to remove themselves from the premises, shouting, “Get the fuck out of here.”
Tupper JD Vance running out from behind the diner counter to greet diners, shake hands and urge them to dig into their Buckeye breakfasts. While handing out hamburgers to National Guard soldiers deployed to the area, he found himself on the receiving end of a storm of criticism. One such protester even labeled him a “Nazi,” showcasing the tense atmosphere organizers feared would envelop Trump’s visit.
It is newsworthy that, since leaving office, he has been so thoroughly shunned from polite society that he’s dined out publicly only once — until this week. The timing of the action could not have been more perfect, as it took place right before tensions in Washington D.C. Law enforcement is having a hard time establishing substantial gun and drug charges. Grand juries have rendered some shocking decisions lately. In fact, they have repeatedly found a lack of evidence to indict in high profile cases involving federal agents.
Former president Trump further defended his actions while eating dinner. Initially, he’d sent thousands of troops to Washington D.C. when crime was at a 30-year low. He stated, “We’re standing right in the middle of DC, which as you know about, over the last year was a very unsafe place – over the last 20 years – and now it’s got virtually no crime.”
Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the group enjoyed their meal at the restaurant. The atmosphere remained heavily charged by the ongoing political discourse.