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A Trump supporter, Anissa Zappala, shared a video from inside the restaurant, explaining that several customers canceled their orders after the altercation. Zappala posted footage of Vance outside the restaurant addressing supporters and discussing the situation. Vance, maintaining composure, said, “We paid for everybody’s food. We gave ’em a nice tip. And of course, when I gave ’em a nice tip, I said, ‘No taxes on tips.’ It’s alright. Don’t hold it against her. She just got a little nervous. But it’s a great local business. Let’s keep on supporting it, and most importantly, November 5th or before, go vote. Let’s go win this…”
Despite the hiccup, Vance continued to meet with supporters outside in the parking lot, exchanging handshakes and encouraging them to vote. Videos posted by C-SPAN’s Howard Mortman showed the senator greeting a line of enthusiastic Trump supporters, while the Trump campaign collected names and phone numbers for a make-up event.
NBC News reporter Doug Adams provided additional insight, explaining that the restaurant management had explicitly stated they did not want to be involved in any campaign-related activities. “JD Vance intended to make a stop at a Primanti Bros near Pittsburgh… but when they got there, the campaign was told no cams & restaurant didn’t want to be part of a ‘campaign event.’ Vance ended up shaking hands outside in [the] parking lot. He has [an] event in Monroeville, PA this aftn,” Adams reported.
Taylor Van Kirk, the national campaign press secretary for Vance, posted multiple videos of the senator mingling with supporters, illustrating how Vance managed the situation with grace and professionalism.
In response to the backlash, Primanti Bros. issued a statement attempting to clarify the situation. The restaurant chain, which prides itself on being a Pittsburgh staple for over 90 years, claimed that the confusion was due to the lack of advance notice about the campaign stop. The statement, shared by WPXI-TV, read: “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.”
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The conflicting accounts and video footage of the incident have left many questioning the credibility of Primanti Bros.’ statement. While some patrons insist that Vance was indeed refused entry, the restaurant maintains that it was simply a misunderstanding.
In the end, it’s up to the public to decide whether this was an innocent mistake or a deliberate act to keep a Trump ally from interacting with supporters. As the controversy continues to brew, one thing is clear—Primanti Bros. is at the center of a political storm that shows no signs of dissipating. With the 2024 election on the horizon, incidents like this could have significant implications for businesses that find themselves caught in the crossfire of America’s divisive political landscape.
