Trump branded ‘Hitler of our time’ by protesters inside his Washington dinner
President Donald Trump tried to project authority in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night by dining at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab — his first public meal in the capital outside the White House since beginning his second term.
What began as a carefully staged display of confidence, however, quickly spiraled into another tense standoff. Protesters entered the restaurant mid-meal, transforming the evening into a viral spectacle.
CNN reported that Trump was joined by Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. For years, Trump had largely stayed within the confines of his own properties while in Washington. His decision to eat at Joe’s was meant to underscore the results of his crackdown on crime in the city, where National Guard units and federal agents have recently conducted mass arrests and dismantled homeless encampments.
🚨 TRUMP AT DC RESTAURANT: “We have a SAFE city! Enjoy yourselves — you won't be mugged going home. Have a good time, everybody. Don't drink too much!” 🤣
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 10, 2025
Love this guy 😂 pic.twitter.com/t0f4CRRDes
As his motorcade pulled up, the president was met with loud boos and chants of “F*** you” from onlookers outside. Once inside, Trump initially received applause, as seen in social media clips.
“We have a safe city, so that’s good. Enjoy yourself. You won’t be mugged going home,” Trump remarked to diners.
Moments later, the atmosphere shifted. Demonstrators rushed the dining area, chanting:
“Free D.C., free Palestine, Trump is the Hitler of our time.”
The president stopped in his tracks, glanced into a camera with a grin, and gestured toward his security team. “Come on,” he said, before Secret Service agents moved in to escort the activists out. One protester shouted, “He’s not welcome in D.C.,” while others in the restaurant jeered at the group as they were removed.
People tonight shouting at Donald Trump in a restaurant: “Free DC, Free Palestine, trump is the Hitler of our time.” https://t.co/qjTeKEVBcJ
— ᗰᗩƳᖇᗩ (@LePapillonBlu2) September 10, 2025
The antiwar organization Code Pink later claimed responsibility for the disruption. Co-founder Medea Benjamin explained that the protest targeted Trump’s domestic and foreign policies. “They feast while Gaza starves,” she wrote, saying the chants were aimed at highlighting what activists view as hypocrisy in touting law and order while pursuing wars abroad and aggressive policing at home.
The dinner confrontation came just two days after Trump’s appearance at the U.S. Open final in New York, where his image on the stadium screen prompted one of the loudest reactions of the tournament. The crowd erupted with boos, and chants against him broke out, while broadcasters reportedly attempted to dampen the sound for television audiences.
