The owner of a Washington, DC pizzeria addressed concerns surrounding the possibility of President Donald Trump visiting her establishment, which was mentioned in a local magazine as part of a “political mass” event.
Jessica Sidman, a food editor in Washington, commented that local restaurants face a dilemma on whether to host Trump, especially considering the backlash they may receive. She cited Menomer Pizzeria as an example of a business that experienced boycotts after the owner praised Trump shortly after his 2024 election victory.
In her piece, Sidman mentioned that while the pizzeria does serve Trump, they will likely encounter threats of boycotts as well as both online and in-person backlash.
In response, Maria Luciano, the owner, took to X to clarify that she would welcome Trump. She stated that rejecting the president would be disrespectful, rejecting the narrative of fear tied to hosting him. “It’s impolite to have @potus carry that burden alone,” she remarked, suggesting that her restaurant should be inclusive of all Americans, regardless of their political stance.
Luciano expressed gratitude for the mention of her restaurant in Sidman’s article, and further emphasized that hosting Trump would be seen as a privilege, aiming to send a message of unity in DC.
She also mentioned that while there had been calls for boycotts and public backlash, the overall sentiment from customers was more positive than negative, which was encouraging for her and her staff. “We want to show courtesy, unity, and respect for everyone in our capital,” she added.
Previously, Luciano had indicated in comments to Fox News that she noticed a shift towards a more positive atmosphere in DC, suggesting that the public response to her original post showed a change in sentiment.
As her post gained traction, she received an influx of supportive messages that greatly outweighed any negative feedback.
