Was JD Vance turned away from a Pennsylvania restaurant for political reasons or a simple misunderstanding?
At a Glance
- Primanti Brothers clarified that Republican vice-presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance was not “banned” from their North Versailles restaurant.
- The confusion arose due to the staff being uninformed in advance about Vance’s visit.
- The restaurant manager initially told patrons that Vance could not make a campaign stop there and threatened to call the police if he entered.
- Many Trump supporters left the restaurant to join Vance outside.
- Primanti Brothers later welcomed Vance and his team into the restaurant to interact with guests.
The Incident at Primanti Brothers
On a day filled with political fervor, Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, faced an unexpected predicament at Primanti Brothers in North Versailles, Pennsylvania. Upon arrival, as support from about 100 Trump followers surged, the doors weren’t as open as anticipated. Restaurant staff hadn’t been informed of Vance’s planned visit, prompting initial confusion. The manager claimed no campaign events could occur, threatening to call the police if Vance entered the premises.
Adding to the tension, Washington County GOP chair Sean Logue and other Republican supporters were present. When they resisted, and pointed to a recent visit by Kamala Harris for her event in the area, the response was unconvincing. Vance, standing outside while his team negotiated, demonstrated heeding the rules and staying composed in adversity.
“The manager told patrons, other Republicans, that Vance is not allowed to make a campaign stop at Primanti Brothers,” Logue said. “And then when there was pushback to say, ‘Wait a second, Kamala Harris just did this a month ago,’ the response was, ‘Well, if he wants to sit down and order food, we can’t stop him.'”
Supporters Stand by Vance
The spectacle didn’t end there. Fans remained undeterred despite the initial setback, migrating outside to back their candidate. Even amid adversity, Vance reflected commendable composure. Primanti Brothers made amends, eventually welcoming Vance inside. Nevertheless, the blowback remained potent, and dissatisfaction swirled among patrons and spectators alike.
“Look, I think what happened is she [the manager] just freaked out a little bit because there were a lot of people and she didn’t want to make her restaurant part of a campaign stop,” Vance said, in a video Logue shared. “It’s alright, don’t hold it against her, she just got a little nervous, it’s a great local business, let’s keep supporting it.”
While chaos reigned inside, diners canceled their food orders in solidarity with Vance. The Republican candidate diffused the situation by covering the collective food tab and tipping generously. His humor shone through, jesting about “no taxes on tips,” a small gesture pointing toward his fiscal stances.
Repercussions of the Incident
The ramifications of this incident have wide-reaching implications. Political opponents capitalized on this supposed organizational misstep, criticizing Vance’s campaign management. Some just lied and said he was banned from the restaurant, which isn’t what happened at all.
Meanwhile, supporters lambasted Primanti Brothers on social media, rallying for boycotts against the establishment. Despite the turmoil, Vance maintained his poise, urging his backers to move past the event and continue supporting the local business. His focus remains on the larger goal—success in the upcoming election.
“We paid for everyone’s food, gave a generous tip, and, of course, when I tipped, I joked ‘no taxes on tips,’” Vance shared with the crowd.
They liked him, too – which is funny, given how Harris always says he’s “weird.”
