WASHINGTON \u2014 President Donald Trump\u2019s rare outing to a local restaurant Tuesday night got off to a rocky start when he came face to face with protesters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other administration officials, arrived by motorcade at Joe\u2019s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab less than a quarter-mile from the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump briefly spoke to reporters on the street outside the restaurant, where he was met with cheers and some chants of \u201cfree Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once he was inside, as he greeted restaurant patrons, a group of protesters holding Palestinian flags began chanting, \u201cFree D.C., free Palestine, Trump is the Hitler of our time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The activist group Code Pink claimed credit for the protests. In a video on its social media accounts, Trump is seen approaching the protesters before he stands in front of them and smiles. He then gestures for them to leave, and they are escorted out of the restaurant as a protester says, \u201cHe\u2019s terrorizing communities in D.C.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump has claimed recently that D.C. restaurant attendance has increased amid his crackdown on crime in Washington, which has included a surge in federal law enforcement and the deployment of armed National Guard troops. Before he entered the restaurant, Trump said that the city was now \u201ccrime free\u201d and that he will announce a similar crackdown in a new city as soon as Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe wanted to take some of the members of the Cabinet out to dinner, and here we are \u2014 we\u2019re standing right in the middle of D.C., which, as you know about, over the last year was a very unsafe place, over the last 20 years actually was very unsafe. And now there\u2019s virtually no crime. We call it crime-free,\u201d Trump told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The restaurant appearance came a few days after a reporter asked Trump whether he would dine out in D.C., noting that he had not gone to a restaurant during either of his terms as president, though he regularly ate at Trump International Hotel during his first four years in office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response, Trump said, \u201cI might,\u201d and then asked the reporter, \u201cDo you want me to prove you wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joe\u2019s Stone Crab, which was first opened in Miami Beach, Florida, has locations in Miami, Chicago, Las Vegas and Washington, featuring crab dishes that exceed $100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed what the group ordered Tuesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe President and his team enjoyed crab, shrimp, salad, steak, and dessert. The food was phenomenal and the service was fantastic. Thank you, Joe\u2019s!\u201d Leavitt said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n