Sarah Huckabee Sanderssays she “politely left” a Virginia restaurant on Friday night after the owner told her to exit the business because of her association withPresident Donald Trump.
The White House press secretary, who hasreceived widespread criticism in the past for defending the president’s lies, tweeted on Saturday about the alleged incident — which appears to be yet another example of sharply divided times in the U.S.
Sanders’ tweet cameweeks after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a bakery owner who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, a verdict many conservatives praised.
“Are Republicans welcome in this restaurantor just not ones that work for the current administration?” one Yelp user asked. “I wouldn’t want to be asked to leave, so I would like to choose restaurants based on whether I would be able to have a decent experience.”
“After their latest shenanigans,I will never step foot in The Ren Hen,” one woman wrote on their Facebook page. “Totally discrimination against conservatives..but I guess discrimination is only one sided these days.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sanders’ father, also blasted the owners. “Bigotry. On the menu at Red Hen Restaurant in Lexington VA,” Huckabee tweeted. “Or you can ask for the ‘Hate Plate.’ And appetizers are ‘small plates for small minds.’ ”
Others, meanwhile, came to the Red Hen’s defense.
“Personally, I prefer NOT having to dine with liars, racists or fascists,” wrote another Yelp user. “But that’s just me.”
“If I ever go to Lexington, Va,I will make sure to dine at The Red Hen,” wrote a Twitter user. “Any restaurant willing to take a stand against the lying Bigly mouthpiece is great in my book. Your actions have consequences, Sarah. Deal with it.”
Acclaimed director Ava Duvernay also showed that she was going to be supporting the restaurant: “Takes out pen, takes out paper,adds Red Hen to list of preferred restaurantsin my best handwriting, with hearts,” she tweeted.
Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2017.Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary, speaks during a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2017. Sanders said President Donald Trump could benefit from some of the business provisions in the tax bill that could be headed for his signature this week. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Sanders was promoted to White House press secretary following the July 2017 resignation of Sean Spicer. She previously served as deputy press secretary.
Another Trump administration official, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, had an incident in a D.C.-area eatery on Tuesday when a group ofprotesters ambushed her over the processing detention centers her office runs.
Protestors from the Metro D.C. Democratic Socialists of America asked Nielsen questions — including “How do you sleep at night?” and “Do you hear the babies crying?” — as she dined with a colleague at MXDC Cocina Mexicana.
Meanwhile, earlier this month,Sanders pushed back against a new report that claimed she is planning to leave her position before the end of the year.
In response, Sanders wrote on Twitter, “Does @CBSNews know something I don’t about my plans and my future? I was at my daughter’s year-end Kindergarten event and they ran a story about my ‘plans to leave the WH’ without even talking to me.”
She continued, “I love my job and am honored to work for @POTUS.”
source: people.com
