Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR), while dining with two fellow mothers at an Arkansas restaurant last week, was told to leave the establishment because its owners said their employees felt “uncomfortable” with her presence.
The governor ate lunch at The Croissanterie on March 13 with her friends and two members of her security detail, but the end of their meal was somewhat disrupted when they were told to leave. By the time they were kicked out, the diners had already finished eating and paid with a tip.
The owners apparently didn’t realize at first that it was Sanders who sat down to eat at the West Little Rock bakery and cafe. As time passed, the restaurant employees became disgruntled.
“Allowing her to stay risked being perceived as a lack of support for the community that makes up the majority of our team, as well as their families and friends,” the restaurant owners said. “Conversely, asking her to leave could be viewed as denying service based on differing beliefs. Ultimately, we made the decision to support our employees and guests who expressed they were uncomfortable.”
Sanders and company were nearing the 90-minute seating limit when staff asked that they leave.
“Last week I was having lunch with two other moms at a restaurant when the owner approached a member of the State Police Executive Protection Detail and said my presence made their employees feel threatened and told us to leave,” Sanders said in a statement, recounting her version of events.
The restaurant’s statement did not include any mention of employees feeling threatened, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The story was reported by the Daily Wire on Thursday.
“Arkansans are known for their warm hospitality, and while that restaurant didn’t meet that standard, my administration will continue to focus on lifting Arkansans up, not tearing others down,” the Republican governor added.
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This isn’t the first time Sanders has been told to leave a restaurant. In June 2018, she and her group were kicked out of The Red Hen in Lexington, Virginia, without finishing their appetizers. At the time, Sanders was the White House press secretary during President Donald Trump’s first term. So anyone affiliated with him was not welcome at the Italian restaurant.
The Red Hen closed for nearly two weeks because of protests that came with the national attention. The restaurant later shut down in 2023.