Vance Not Allowed to Campaign in Pittsburgh Culinary Landmark — Despite Harris Event at Same Restaurant Chain
Vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance was barred from entering a Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar location in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, despite the same restaurant chain allowing the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign to meet its supporters there.
A source familiar with the campaign told Fox News Digital that when the vice presidential campaign stopped by Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar, their planned visit to excited supporters was cut short when they were promptly kicked out by employees. The source noted that Primanti Bros. management was aware that the Trump-Vance campaign was planning on stopping by.
An employee told the campaign that this was “not a campaign stop” and that “JD’s not allowed in,” the source said, adding that the manager threatened to call the police if they didn’t leave. Trump-Vance supporters shot back, booing the employees as they were ushered to the exit, the source said.
The Trump campaign’s frosty reception at the restaurant chain contrasts how the Harris-Walz campaign was treated just a month earlier when they visited a Primanti Bros. location in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Harris’ campaign made a stop at the Primanti Bros. location on Aug. 18 – much to the chagrin of locals, who were kicked out of the restaurant.
Despite the Vance campaign being kicked out of the local establishment, the campaign met with supporters outside the restaurant. Photos from the impromptu outside event showed Vance greeting excited patrons. Before leaving, Vance addressed the crowd of supporters that had gathered outside the establishment.
“We paid for everybody’s food, we gave them a nice tip and, of course, when I gave a nice tip, I said no taxes on tips,” Vance said, referring to a Trump proposal. “It’s all right, don’t hold it against [the worker]. She just got a little nervous, but it’s a great local business. Let’s keep on supporting it.”
Exclusive video obtained by Fox News Digital showed Vance talking with Primanti Bros employees following the run-in. “I don’t think they paid for their food, so we’ll cover it,” Vance is heard telling an employee. “I appreciate that, thank you,” the employee is heard saying. “And keep the change,” Vance said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a fair amount in there. And, ya know, no taxes on tips. That’s one of things that we’re trying to hammer.”
Primanti’s CEO Adam Golomb downplayed the situation in an email to TribLive, stating, “Without any advance notice, today’s campaign stop caused some momentary confusion for our staff. However, Senator Vance and his team were welcomed into our restaurant shortly after and engaged with our guests inside and on the property.” A follow-up question about whether Vance ordered a sandwich was not immediately answered.
