JD Vance Left in the Cold: Shaking Hands in the Parking Lot After Sandwich Shop Snub
Senator JD Vance, the GOP’s hopeful for vice president, found himself in an awkward situation recently. While making his campaign rounds, he planned to stop by the legendary Primanti Bros. sandwich shop just outside Pittsburgh. But things took a turn when the restaurant, famous since 1933, denied him entry, leaving Vance shaking hands with supporters in the parking lot instead of hosting his planned event inside.
According to NBC’s senior political editor Doug Adams, Vance had arranged to visit the beloved sandwich chain for a campaign event. However, the restaurant management made it clear they didn’t want to host any political activities and barred cameras from entering, forcing Vance and his team to improvise. Left without other options, the Senator greeted about 50 supporters who gathered outside in the parking lot.
The situation, while unfortunate for Vance, reflects a broader trend where businesses and the general public are distancing themselves from Trump-aligned politicians. This incident echoes previous rejections, like when several sports teams declined to visit the White House during Trump’s presidency. It’s a telling sign that even non-political spaces are increasingly wary of being associated with divisive politics.
NBC’s Gary Grumbach backed up the story, adding that Vance’s campaign was even warned that the police might be called if he didn’t stay in his car. Karen Taylor, founder of Audit The Vote PA, confirmed this, adding another layer of awkwardness to the scene. Later, Taylor claimed the restaurant denied any threats to involve law enforcement and said that Vance was welcome. But by then, the damage had been done, and the incident was already making waves online.
The backlash on social media was swift and merciless. A.J. Delgado, a former Trump campaign aide, summed it up bluntly: “Damn, that’s embarrassing.” Democratic activist Jon Karlen poked fun, quipping, “His loss. I hear they have a tremendous Whatever Makes Sense special.”
Beyond the immediate embarrassment, this incident is a symptom of a larger issue facing Republicans closely tied to Trump. Their polarizing rhetoric and extreme positions are driving a wedge between them and everyday Americans, with businesses like Primanti Bros. hesitant to get caught in the political crossfire.
Once a powerful force within the GOP, Trump’s influence is now becoming a double-edged sword for candidates like Vance. The sight of him left to shake hands in a parking lot, denied entry to a sandwich shop, might just be a glimpse of the challenges Trump-aligned Republicans will continue to face. It’s becoming clear that the brand of chaos and controversy surrounding them is pushing people—and businesses—further away.
