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The fact that the latest instance of publicly shaming Trump administration officials attempting to dine out took place nearly 200 miles from the nation’s capital hasn’t stopped outraged Trump supporters from attempting to destroy the reputation of the critically acclaimed Red Hen in Bloomingdale by flooding social media with spiteful reviews.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders alerted the nation via Twitter that she had been asked to leave the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia because of her job. Stephanie Wilkinson, co-owner of the Virginia restaurant, told the Washington Post that she refused Sanders service because of the administration’s policies on LGBTQ issues and immigration.
Trump supporters immediately hopped online to seek vengeance, erroneously lashing out at the unaffiliated Red Hen in D.C. — a retaliatory campaign the local Red Hen’s management attempted to halt by pointing out that it had nothing to do with the political drama.
Good morning! @PressSec went to the unaffiliated @RedHenLex last night, not to our DC-based restaurant.
— The Red Hen (@RedHenDC) June 23, 2018
The clarification did nothing to stop the torrent of malicious reviews that have poured in on Yelp and Facebook.
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Even when informed that the Red Hen in D.C. is not the restaurant that ejected Sanders, at least one attacker has persisted — brazenly commenting “Ask me if I care?”
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Eater reached out to D.C. Red Hen regarding what, if anything, it can do to rectify the false accusations still pouring in but has not heard back. The virtual sniping is unlikely to subside anytime soon — particularly now that President Donald Trump has joined the fight.
The Red Hen Restaurant should focus more on cleaning its filthy canopies, doors and windows (badly needs a paint job) rather than refusing to serve a fine person like Sarah Huckabee Sanders. I always had a rule, if a restaurant is dirty on the outside, it is dirty on the inside!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2018
These confrontations have gotten so out of hand, the Washington Post — which Trump assails every chance he gets — issued a call for civility in an editorial titled “Let the Trump team eat in peace.”
- Let the Trump team eat in peace [WaPo]
- The owner of the Red Hen explains why she asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave [WaPo]
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders is upset because a restaurant wouldn’t serve her. She’s okay with it happening to gays [Vox]
- Protesters Jeer Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen During Dinner at MXDC [EDC]
