August 25, 2025 — Celebrity Chef Jose Andres, who owns a number of restaurants in the U.S., including seven in D.C. reacted to Trump’s claims that restaurants closed because people were “afraid to go outside,” claiming he was telling “a flat-out lie.”
Responding to the August placement of the D.C. police department under federal control and the deployment of National Guard troops to the city, Trump touted crime numbers, saying: “Friends of mine are going out to dinner now. They haven’t gone out to dinner in four years — they were afraid. They were petrified. Half the restaurants closed because nobody could go because they’re afraid to go outside. Now, those restaurants are open and new restaurants are opening up.”
Mr. President: I understand why you are confused…all your time in DC you haven’t eaten ONCE outside the White House or your own hotel. I’ve lived here for 33 years, and it’s a flat out lie that half the restaurants have closed because of safety…but restaurants will close because you have troops with guns and federal agents harassing people…making people afraid to go out. Cities and towns and rural areas of America need policies that allow small business to thrive and all people including immigrants to live and work with dignity. People shouldn’t be afraid of their government…government should have respect for its people, not terrorize them.
Click here to follow the celebrity chef: joseandres.com
And click here to read how another DC business is experiencing the presence of the National Guard in town: Solid State Books.