Protestors get close to the President during D.C. dinner
News | By Easton Martin | September 10, 2025
President Trump dined at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab in Washington, D.C., alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. During the meal, protesters from the activist group Code Pink, seated nearby, began chanting slogans such as “Free D.C.,” “Free Palestine,” and “Trump is the Hitler of our time.”
Footage captured the president momentarily stopping near the protesters, nodding and smiling before gesturing for them to be removed. Secret Service agents then intervened, telling the protesters, “Time to go,” as they escorted them out of the restaurant.
Criticism quickly surfaced, with questions as to why protesters were able to secure seats so close to the president. Voices on social media raised concerns over potential security lapses and whether the Secret Service had adequately controlled access to the dining area.
The administration portrayed the dinner as a demonstration of D.C.’s improved safety under federal enforcement efforts. The protest, however, highlighted unexpected vulnerabilities in securing a high-profile public appearance inside a public venue.
