Dinner guests attack Kamala Harris’ campaign for throwing them out of a Pittsburgh restaurant for ‘busting’ their own crowd for a campaign stunt

A group of diners enjoying the famous Primanti Bros. sandwiches in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were surprised and outraged Saturday when staff told them they had to leave by 4 p.m.

It was a typical Saturday afternoon with a handful of guests enjoying beer, food and baseball. But the meeting was soon interrupted by a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris.

“About three-thirty the barmaid said, ‘It’s the last round’ – what do you mean last round?” said regular Mark Dodson. said to Fox News reporter Charles Creitz.

Staff told guests they had to leave because of a “private event,” which turned out to be a campaign rally for Kamala Harris.

A group of supporters of former President Donald Trump gathered outside the restaurant to boo Harris and wave signs and Trump flags as the vice president and her team arrived at the famed establishment.

Supporters of former U.S. President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump welcome Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during a bus campaign tour stop at Primanti Bros. Restaurant

“They threw us out of Primanti Brothers,” one man said as someone in the crowd filmed a caravan of more than a dozen unmarked Ford Transit vans arriving at the venue.

“Look at all those paid actors!” shouted others in the pro-Trump crowd. “All those actors in those vans!”

“For Kamala Harris’ visit to Primanti’s this afternoon, they kicked out the patrons at 4pm so they could invite their own crowd,” Allegheny County Republican Committee Chairman Sam DeMarco III wrote on social media, sharing video of the crowd.

“Look at all those white vans,” he added. “Keep that in mind when you watch the video of them interacting inside.”

Vice President Kamala Harris stepped off her campaign bus around 6 p.m. and walked into the restaurant, where a group of enthusiastic fans and campaign media greeted her and took photos.

The second gentleman Doug Emhoff also came to the restaurant and spoke to what appeared to be local guests. They were very polite and excited to see them.

U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris steps off her bus during a bus campaign tour stop at Primanti Bros. Restaurant

At one point, a woman directs Harris to “some of our additional supporters,” including a young girl who greeted Harris warmly and commented on the book she was holding. She talked to the girl about school and said she was “counting on you to be a leader,” as staff members took photos of the interaction.

A second aide then directs Harris to a “volunteer” while the vice president takes a photo with the couple.

It is common for candidates to visit local restaurants during their campaign, as the Secret Service sometimes conducts security checks prior to the campaign.

Sometimes campaign volunteers are notified of events well in advance so they can meet and have their photo taken with their political hero.

Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, right, greets customers at Primanti Bros. restaurant.

However, it’s not often that candidates completely close a restaurant prior to a short campaign rally.

Trump faced similar “staging” accusations from Democratic activists on social media after he visited a Chick Fil A in Atlanta where he hugged conservative activist Michaelah Montgomery. Montgomery later spoke about the moment during an interview with Fox News the next morning.

Harris’ campaign has taken extra security measures to avoid any unprepared moments or confrontations with angry protesters unhappy with her handling of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Last week, Harris required attendees at her rally to show photo ID and waited until the last minute to announce the event’s location.