Fallout From Sanders’ Visit: Restaurant Learns QUICKLY That They Probably Should Have Served Her

On Friday evening, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was refused service and was asked to leave a restaurant in Lexington, Virginia by the owner because of her affiliation with the Trump administration.

According to Sanders’ account, she then peacefully got up and left the establishment without further incident.

“Last night I was told by the owner of Red Hen in Lexington, VA to leave because I work for [President Trump] and I politely left. Her actions say far more about her than about me,” the press secretary recalled. “I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so.”

Last night I was told by the owner of Red Hen in Lexington, VA to leave because I work for @POTUS and I politely left. Her actions say far more about her than about me. I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) June 23, 2018

As Daily Mail reports, a now-viral post confirmed the press secretary’s account:

The post went viral after Brennan Gilmore, the director of nonprofit green group Clean Virginia, shared it on Twitter along with a handwritten note supposedly from the restaurant that read: ’86 — Sara Huckabee Sanders’.

Gilmore wrote: ‘@PressSecretary got kicked out of the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Va tonight. Apparently the owner didn’t want to serve her and her party out of moral conviction.’

’86’ is restaurant industry slang meaning ‘throw out’.

How’s the restaurant holding up less than 24 hours later? Not well, according to its reviews on Yelp which have dropped from 4.5 stars to 2.5 stars.

Ouch.

“Don’t mess with @PressSec,” Washington D.C. attorney Will Chamberlain tweeted with pictures of new reviews.

Many of the recent posts, both 1-star and 5-star reviews, reflect the Sarah Sanders incident and not the food or quality of service of the restaurant.

“Was planning to eat here but they informed me they do not serve my kind. If you hate bigotry & injustice you should give this restaurant a wide berth,” posted Brett from Nashville, Tennessee.

“If you are a “deplorable” don’t bother dining here, you won’t be served. Kicking out someone because of their political beliefs is ridiculous regardless of what you believe,” Gene from Queen Creek, Arizona said in a review.

“What a missed opportunity!!!” Donna from Louisville Kentucky added. “Instead of being honored that a very successful, high profile female comes to your restaurant, with her family, for just a simple, peaceful meal, you request she leaves because of your political views. Sad. Unprofessional. Disrespectful. Your Dems agree.”

Check it out:

From 4.5 stars to 2.5 stars in a matter of hours

Don’t mess with @PressSec pic.twitter.com/xJfXkXXsqO

— Will Chamberlain 🇺🇸 (@willchamberlain) June 23, 2018

LOL pic.twitter.com/8JmtqfLWiW

— Will Chamberlain 🇺🇸 (@willchamberlain) June 23, 2018

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” – Warren Buffett pic.twitter.com/3conLJDzeF

— Will Chamberlain 🇺🇸 (@willchamberlain) June 23, 2018

Update: Yelp’s going to clean up the mess, apparently pic.twitter.com/riJ2vsoHDH

— Will Chamberlain 🇺🇸 (@willchamberlain) June 23, 2018

The incident made its way onto Fox News where hosts and panelists alike criticized the restaurant’s decision. Per the Daily Caller:

Panelist and “Gutfeld” co-host Katherine Timpf called the move “immature and really stupid,” adding that while one can certainly disagree with issues and policies, “you’re not actually accomplishing anything by kicking someone out of a restaurant–you’re just being petty.”

Commentator Harlan Hill said the incident was “another example of how intolerant we’ve become as a society.”

“If there’s somebody at the table with a different opinion to your own, not only do you not want to engage in a conversation with them, you want to shut them down,” Hill said.

Cathy Areu called the Red Hen’s decision “just wrong,” noting that Sanders was “supporting the restaurant and the restaurant threw her out.

People may remember just earlier this week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Neilsen was confronted and disturbed by protestors during a meal at a Washington D.C. restaurant.

“Sarah Sanders is now the latest Trump administration official to be heckled or forced out of a restaurant because of their work,” tweeted the Daily Caller’s Saagar Enjeti.

Sarah Sanders is now the latest Trump administration official to be heckled or forced out of a restaurant because of their work @POTUS https://t.co/bwaOWclEJD

— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) June 23, 2018