Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance tried to visit the famous Primanti Bros. restaurant in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Supporters were excited and gathered to meet him. But when he got there, the restaurant manager said they didn’t want a “campaign event” happening inside, even though they allowed Vice President Harris to take photos there earlier this year.
Barred from Entry
An employee informed Vance’s team that it was “not a campaign stop,” and that “J.D.’s not allowed in.” To make matters worse, the manager even threatened to call the police if Vance attempted to enter. This kind of treatment is frustrating for supporters who just wanted to see their candidate.
Supporters Respond
The crowd of Trump-Vance supporters reacted strongly by booing the manager after they learned Vance was turned away. It’s clear that people are tired of this kind of double standard when it comes to political visits.
A Witness Shares the Story
Sean Logue, an attorney from Pittsburgh who saw what happened, shared videos from inside the restaurant on social media. He explained how things unfolded: “I’m right by the Primanti Brothers near McKeesport… I wanted to document what happened because there’s some confusion about exactly what took place.” Logue noted that many in attendance were wearing Trump gear while others were dressed casually.
Logue continued with his account: “J.D. Vance’s SUV pulls up, Secret Service comes into the restaurant… Then the manager runs out and yells at him and says, you can’t come in here.” The situation escalated when the manager called company headquarters and confirmed that Vance was indeed not welcome.
Meeting Supporters Outside
After being denied entry, Vance met his supporters outside in the parking lot. A staff member encouraged those inside to jot down their names so Vance could connect with them on his next visit. This shows a commitment to engaging with voters directly despite setbacks.
Camaraderie Over Food
Vance told his fans, “We went in there, we paid for everybody’s food, we gave them a nice tip.” He added humorously that there would be “no taxes on tips if you vote for Trump,” which got cheers from the crowd. It’s moments like these that create a bond between candidates and their supporters.
A Stark Contrast with Harris’ Visit
The Trump campaign’s experience at Primanti Bros. was very different compared to Vice President Harris’ recent visit. Several patrons reported that customers were asked to leave so Harris supporters could fill their spots during her campaign stop last month.
Pennsylvania resident Mark Dodson expressed his frustration: “I wanted to watch some sports and enjoy an afternoon lunch… Around 3:30, the bartender goes, ‘It’s last call’ – what do you mean last call?” Employees then announced a private event was taking place—turns out it was Harris arriving with her husband Doug Emhoff for photos and greetings with carefully selected guests.
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