Prominent MAGA figures erupted in fury at the Secret Service on Tuesday following a security incident at an upscale Washington, D.C. restaurant where protesters confronted President Donald Trump during his first public dinner outing in the capital as president.
The incident occurred Tuesday evening at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab near the White House, where Trump was dining with top Cabinet members including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The visit was intended to demonstrate that the capital had become safer following Trump’s deployment of National Guard officers in D.C.
Members of the Code Pink activist group disrupted the dinner by shouting “Free D.C! Free Palestine!” and “Trump is the Hitler of our time!” while positioned just feet from the president. The protesters had managed to secure a table inside the restaurant adjacent to Trump’s location, raising immediate questions about security protocols.
Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna questioned whether someone within the Secret Service had leaked Trump’s location to the activist group. She demanded an investigation into how the protesters gained such close access to the president and why agents appeared slow to respond to the disruption.
Pro-Trump podcaster Graham Allen expressed similar concerns, questioning how Code Pink knew Trump would be at the restaurant since it was not a public event. He criticized the extended duration of the shouting and yelling directed at the president.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer escalated the criticism by suggesting the incident posed such a serious threat that House Speaker Mike Johnson, who follows Vance in the presidential succession line, could have ended up as president. Loomer speculated about potential sympathizers within the Secret Service and demanded accountability, stating “This is unacceptable. POTUS could have been assassinated tonight.”
The Secret Service responded to the criticism by explaining their security procedures. A spokesperson indicated that all restaurant guests, including the protesters who had made reservations to gain access, were screened prior to the president’s arrival. The agency emphasized that personnel quickly resolved the situation while actively ensuring Trump’s safety, allowing the dinner to continue without further incident.
Code Pink’s D.C. organizer Olivia DiNucci revealed to The Daily Beast that the group had reserved a table at the upscale restaurant on short notice specifically to confront Trump. She explained they initially expected only Trump to be present and were surprised to find his entire Cabinet dining in such an open setting, with their table placed remarkably close to the presidential party.
The incident occurred on the final day of Trump’s 30-day emergency order giving him control over local police officers, with the order set to expire at midnight Wednesday. However, the deployment of National Guard troops from eight Republican states was expected to continue, with no indication Trump planned to release control of the city.
This security breach drew comparisons to previous failures that allowed a gunman to climb onto a roof and open fire at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. That incident left the then-78-year-old candidate with a minor ear injury and resulted in widespread condemnation of Secret Service security protocols.
The restaurant visit marked Trump’s first dinner out in Washington as president, excluding occasions at his own hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. The venue, known for expensive seafood with king crab claws priced at nearly $160, represented a departure from Trump’s typical dining arrangements.
Trump loyalists used the incident to renew attacks on the Secret Service’s effectiveness, particularly given the agency’s recent security failures during the presidential campaign. The criticism focused on fundamental questions about advance security planning and coordination with local venues when protecting the president during public appearances.
The confrontation highlighted ongoing tensions in Washington as Trump maintains his grip on D.C. security operations through National Guard deployments from Republican-led states, while activist groups continue organizing protests against administration policies.
