JD Vance faced yet another embarrassing setback on the campaign trail when he was denied entry to a restaurant where he was scheduled to speak, forcing him to address supporters in the parking lot instead.
Reports indicate that upon arriving at Primanti Bros in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, a restaurant employee informed the press that cameras were prohibited and that they did not want to host a “campaign event.” The restaurant was reportedly filled with patrons eager to meet Vance, many of whom canceled their food orders after learning he was not welcome.
According to NBC, Vance ended up mingling with supporters outside in the parking lot. “We paid for everyone’s food and gave them a generous tip,” he shared with the crowd, adding humorously, “And of course, when I gave a nice tip, I said, ‘no taxes on the tip.’” He encouraged attendees not to hold the incident against the restaurant, emphasizing, “It’s a great local business; let’s keep supporting it.”
This latest misstep involving food and a campaign event has led many online to question the planning and arrangements made by Vance’s advance team. One user on X remarked that he has “the worst advance team in modern election history.”
Just the week prior, Vance was mocked online for a supermarket visit in Pennsylvania, where he lamented the high cost of eggs, claiming they were $4 due to Harris’s economic policies. However, footage of the visit revealed that the price of a dozen eggs was actually $2.99, leading to swift backlash from viewers.
In Philadelphia, Vance attempted a joke while ordering a Philly cheesesteak at the iconic Pat’s King of Steaks, only to be accused of committing a “crime against humanity” when the joke fell flat.
Back in August, Vance acknowledged that the Trump campaign mishandled a visit to a donut shop in Valdosta, Georgia, where he struggled to make small talk with an employee who seemed reluctant to be on camera. The awkward encounter quickly went viral, prompting Vance to later express sympathy for the employee, saying, “I just felt terrible for that woman.”
