On Tuesday, President Donald Trump did something he rarely does on any night – he went out to dinner in Washington, D.C.. Tuesday’s outing was intended to underscore just how nice it is to live and work in a safe city, amid Trump’s somewhat controversial safety initiative in the capital.
The controversy stems from Trump’s decision to bring in the National Guard and federalize the police force in D.C., in a bid to crack down on crime.
According to the Associated Press, Trump enjoyed a meal at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab on Tuesday.
“Following weeks of boasting about mobilizing federal authorities and the military, which he claims have made Washington ‘a safe zone,’ the president’s motorcade made the short distance to the restaurant,” the outlet noted.
The eating establishment, located about two blocks from the White House, has Florida origins, The Daily Mail reported, adding, “The original Joe’s Stone Crab is a Miami Beach staple and was designated a historic landmark in 1975.”
Trump was greeted by applause as he left his vehicle. He told reporters, “We’re 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 — and now it’s got virtually no crime.”
Once he was in the restaurant, he told patrons, “You won’t be mugged going home.”
He was soon greeted by a small group of protesters who held up miniature Gaza flags and chanted, “Free D.C.! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!”
The group was ushered away, and the dinner party, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, was seated.
Also noteworthy are the president’s remarks about the Jeffery Epstein birthday letter. The president discredited a letter that bears a signature very similar to his.
The Washington Examiner reports:
The Epstein estate recently released a letter from Trump to convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday. The letter shows Trump telling Epstein that they had certain things “in common.”
“It’s not my signature and not the way I speak. Anybody that’s covered me for a long time knows that’s not my language. It’s nonsense. And frankly, you’re wasting your time,” he told reporters.
The House Oversight Committee’s release of the letter has stirred up more speculation about Trump’s relationship with Epstein. The president was friends with the financier until they had a falling out.
Trump also blasted Israel’s strike on Qatar, saying he was “not thrilled” about the strike.
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