An unexpected incident occurred when Republican Ohio Senator JD Vance was temporarily restricted from entering Primanti Brothers restaurant in North Versailles Township, Pennsylvania, during a campaign stop.
The Daily Caller reported that Vance faced a brief entry restriction at the restaurant, causing a disturbance among supporters before the issue was swiftly resolved, allowing him to promote his tax policy.
The incident began when an employee at Primanti Brothers initially prevented Senator Vance from entering the premises, resulting in supporters gathering outside the restaurant. The move was reportedly due to a policy against cameras and organized campaign events inside the venue, as noted by an NBC News reporter.
A video captured outside the restaurant showed supporters visibly upset, with some canceling their food orders and departing. Meanwhile, Vance was seen waiting in his SUV, unable to enter.
Vance subsequently took to addressing the situation by covering the cost of food for those present and leaving a generous tip, highlighting his campaign’s stance on not taxing tips.
"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 commented to the gathered crowd outside the restaurant.
In a gesture to quell any negative feelings toward the restaurant staff, Vance urged continued support for the local business and emphasized the importance of voting in the upcoming November 5th election.
"Now, 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. And, most importantly, November 5th or before go vote, let’s go win this thing,” Vance added, encouraging his supporters.
Following the initial confusion, Primanti Brothers released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), explaining the temporary miscommunication. “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,” the restaurant stated.
Videos circulated later showed Vance inside the restaurant, interacting amiably with an employee and discussing various campaign-related topics with patrons.
Primanti Brothers is no stranger to political events; they hosted the Harris-Walz campaign back in August 2024 at their Moon Township location, which also sparked mixed reactions from the public.
During the Harris-Walz event at the Moon Township, there were rumors of paid actors and suspicious white vans, which led to some public speculation. Snopes investigated these claims and found no credible evidence to support them. Additionally, the U.S. Secret Service clarified that the white vans were part of their motorcade, tasked with transporting members of the campaign staff and press.
The incident at Primanti Brothers has generated diverse online reactions, ranging from support for Vance’s handling of the situation to calls for boycotting the restaurant.
At another campaign stop at Holt’s Sweet Shop in Valdosta, Georgia, Vance highlighted economic issues, citing rising egg prices as a consequence of the current administration’s policies.
“Eggs when Kamala Harris took office were short of $1.50 a dozen,” Vance claimed during his stop in Georgia. “Now a dozen eggs will cost you around $4, thanks to Kamala Harris’s inflationary policies.”
This string of campaign stops by Vance underscores his focus on economic policies and small business impacts, a central theme of his run for office this election cycle.
The unfolding events from Pennsylvania to Georgia demonstrate the vibrancy and unpredictability of political campaigning, where each stop can reflect broader national concerns and the immediate reactions of the public.
