Washington (AFP) – Viral videos on social media portray the moment protesters began jeering US President Donald Trump at a Washington restaurant Tuesday, shouting “Free DC! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!” The 79-year-old Republican approached the shouting protesters in the restaurant, pausing a few feet away from them for a few moments, nodding and smiling placidly without offering a response.
Seconds later, Trump gestured for the area to be cleared out, saying “come on, let’s go.” Secret Service agents then moved the protesters, who waved banners of the Palestinian flag. Others in the restaurant can be heard booing or chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” The Secret Service and DC Metropolitan Police did not immediately respond to AFP’s requests for comment.
Eating dinner in public is a rare event for Trump, but Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that he “and his team enjoyed crab, shrimp, salad, steak and dessert” for dinner at a restaurant blocks from the White House. Trump was joined by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Leavitt, and others.
In one video, Vance is seen shaking diners’ hands and telling them to enjoy their meal. Ahead of the meal, Trump told press “the restaurants now are booming” in DC, crediting his crackdown on the capital with National Guard troops. Pool reporters said he was greeted with loud cheers from people across the street and a smattering of boos.
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