Primanti Brothers, a beloved Pittsburgh restaurant, found itself at the center of controversy after supporters of Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance accused the establishment of refusing to allow him inside. According to accounts shared on social media by local Republican leaders, the incident led to calls for a boycott by some Trump supporters, although the restaurant has denied the allegations and claimed the situation was a misunderstanding.
The confusion unfolded as approximately 100 residents of Allegheny County gathered at the restaurant, eagerly awaiting Vance’s arrival for a campaign stop. Washington County GOP Chair Sean Logue took to social media, claiming that the restaurant’s management had informed patrons that Vance was not allowed to enter the establishment. He also noted that the manager threatened to call the police and file trespassing charges if Vance attempted to enter.
Logue further claimed that when supporters reminded the restaurant staff that Vice President Kamala Harris had visited Primanti Brothers for a photo op just a month earlier, tensions escalated. Despite the pushback, Vance remained outside the restaurant while a staffer reportedly attempted to negotiate with the restaurant’s manager, even calling Primanti’s corporate office in hopes of resolving the situation.
Many Trump supporters left the restaurant to take photos with Vance outside, expressing their frustration. However, Primanti Brothers swiftly responded to the claims, stating that the situation stemmed from “momentary confusion” and that Vance was eventually welcomed inside.
In a statement to KDKA, a Primanti Brothers spokesperson said, “Primanti’s prides itself on being a staple of the Pittsburgh community and a proud American business that has hosted sitting presidents, politicians, and political candidates from across the spectrum for over 90 years. Our doors are open to all patrons who wish to dine with us. 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.”
The statement also acknowledged that the unexpected nature of the event, with the presence of the secret service, police, and a crowd, may have made the manager nervous, but they were pleased that the situation was quickly resolved.
WTRF News reports that despite the initial hiccup, Vance was diplomatic about the situation. In a video shared by Sean Logue, Vance can be seen downplaying the incident, saying, “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. 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.”
Vance’s calm and positive reaction appeared to defuse some of the tensions, and he paid the bill for his supporters before leaving the restaurant just minutes after entering.