Trump Supporters Call for Boycott After J.D. Vance Barred from Pittsburgh’s Primanti Brothers Restaurant
A growing number of Donald Trump supporters are calling for a boycott of Authentic Restaurant Brands, the parent company of Pittsburgh’s famous Primanti Brothers, after a manager at the chain’s North Versailles, Pennsylvania location refused entry to Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance. The incident occurred on Saturday, September 28, when Vance attempted to make a brief stop to meet with supporters at the restaurant.
According to eyewitnesses and video footage shared on social media, Vance arrived with the intention of greeting patrons, tipping the staff, and showing his support for the local community. However, upon his arrival, a manager reportedly barred him from entering the establishment. “This is not a campaign stop,” the employee told Vance’s team, adding, “J.D.’s not allowed in.”
Witnesses claim the situation escalated when the manager threatened to call the police if Vance entered the restaurant. Sean Logue, a Pittsburgh attorney who was present, captured the moment in several videos. “J.D. Vance’s SUV pulls up, Secret Service comes into the restaurant, guards the area, and J.D. gets out. Then the manager runs out and says, ‘You can’t come in here,’” Logue recounted to Fox News.
The manager reportedly contacted company headquarters and was told Vance was not allowed to enter. Despite the setback, Vance met with his supporters in the parking lot, and in a show of goodwill, sent staffers inside to gather contact information from those who didn’t get the chance to meet him. Additionally, he paid for everyone’s meals, generously tipped the staff, and left a note on his receipt: “No tax on tips if you vote for Trump.”
While Vance was turned away, reports suggest the same Primanti Brothers location had cleared out paying customers nearly a month earlier to host Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, for a “private event.” Harris and Emhoff mingled with select patrons, sparking outrage from Trump supporters who protested outside the restaurant, accusing the Harris campaign of using “actors” to stage the event.
Following the Vance incident, Trump supporters took to social media, calling for a boycott of Authentic Restaurant Brands, which operates 43 Primanti Brothers locations across the U.S., with 34 in Pennsylvania. The company also owns P.J. Whelihans, Pollotropical, and Mambo Seafood, spanning various states across the country.
In response to the backlash, Primanti Brothers issued a statement, attempting to clarify the situation. “Primanti’s prides itself on being a staple of the Pittsburgh community and a proud American business that has hosted sitting presidents, politicians, and candidates from across the spectrum for over 90 years,” the company said.
They continued, “Without any advance notice, today’s campaign stop caused some momentary confusion for our staff. However, Senator Vance and his team were welcomed into our restaurant shortly after and engaged with our guests inside and on the property.”
Despite the company’s attempt to walk back the controversy, the statement appeared to contradict videos circulating online, which clearly showed Vance being denied entry. Nonetheless, the incident has ignited a firestorm of political debate and calls for action, with many Trump supporters vowing to avoid Authentic Restaurant Brands’ establishments moving forward.
The debate over political bias in restaurants and businesses continues to grow as the 2024 election season heats up, with incidents like these further fueling tensions between political factions across the country.