Prominent MAGA figures launched a fierce attack on the Secret Service following a security incident during President Donald Trump’s dinner at an upscale Washington, D.C. restaurant on Tuesday evening, September 10, 2024. The incident occurred during Trump’s first public dining experience in the capital as president, outside of his own Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.
Trump visited Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab near the White House, accompanied by top Cabinet members including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The visit was intended to demonstrate that the capital had become safer following Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard officers in D.C.
Members of the Code Pink activist group disrupted the dinner by shouting slogans including “Free D.C! Free Palestine!” and declaring Trump “the Hitler of our time” while positioned just feet away from the president. The protesters had managed to secure a table inside the restaurant next to Trump’s party, having made a reservation at the last minute according to Code Pink’s D.C. organizer, Olivia DiNucci.
DiNucci explained that the group had simply reserved a table at the upscale establishment, where king crab claws cost nearly $160, with the intention of confronting Trump. She indicated they were surprised to find Trump’s entire Cabinet present and were placed in close proximity to the presidential party in an open room rather than a separate area as they had expected.
Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna questioned the Secret Service’s handling of the situation, asking how the protesters were allowed so close to Trump and whether someone within the Secret Service had leaked the president’s location. Pro-Trump podcaster Graham Allen expressed similar concerns about how Code Pink knew Trump’s location for what was not a public event.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer suggested the security breach was so severe that House Speaker Mike Johnson, who follows Vance in the presidential line of succession, could have ended up as president. Loomer called for identifying and exposing potential sympathizers within the Secret Service who allowed the protesters inside while Trump was dining. She characterized the situation as unacceptable and claimed Trump “could have been assassinated tonight.”
The incident drew comparisons to previous security failures, particularly the July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman climbed onto a roof and opened fire at Trump. That attack left the then-78-year-old candidate with a minor ear injury and resulted in widespread condemnation of Secret Service security protocols.
A Secret Service spokesperson responded to the criticism by explaining that all restaurant guests, including the protesters, were screened prior to Trump’s arrival. The agency noted that the protesters had made a reservation to gain access and that Secret Service personnel quickly resolved the situation inside the restaurant, allowing the dinner to continue without further incident. The spokesperson emphasized that ensuring the president’s safety and security remains the agency’s highest priority.
The dinner took place on the final day of Trump’s 30-day emergency order giving him control over local police officers, with the order set to expire at midnight on Wednesday. However, the deployment of National Guard troops from eight Republican states was expected to continue, with no indication that Trump would release his grip on the city and send the guards home.
The security concerns raised by MAGA supporters reflect broader tensions about presidential protection following multiple threats and attempts against Trump during his political career. The incident at the Washington restaurant has reignited debates about Secret Service protocols and the balance between public access and presidential security in an increasingly polarized political environment.
