Waitress Suspended After Allegedly Spitting on Eric Trump at Chicago Restaurant
(Shannon Stapleton/Pool Photo via AP)
A Chicago waitress was suspended from her job after Eric Trump claimed she spat on him during a dinner in early 2019, according to Newsweek. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, announced on Twitter that law enforcement officials were present at The Aviary, a high-end restaurant in Chicago’s West Loop, to assist the United States Secret Service with a legal issue.
The restaurant commented, “We did not witness the incident and we are just beginning to learn the details.” The Aviary continued, “What is certain is this: no customer should ever be spit upon. We have not yet spoken with the employee, but our HR team has, in the meantime, placed her on leave.”
A representative for the Trump Organization stated that the Secret Service and Chicago Police had detained a woman, whose identity was not disclosed, in connection with the incident, but she was later released. Eric Trump informed the police that he did not wish to pursue charges, which reportedly led to her release, as noted by the New York Times.
Eric Trump described the incident as “a disgusting act by somebody who clearly has emotional problems. For a party that preaches tolerance, this once again demonstrates they have very little civility. When somebody is sick enough to resort to spitting on someone, it just emphasizes a sickness and desperation and the fact that we’re winning.” Eric, a vocal supporter of his father’s administration, often appears on conservative television programs.
Meanwhile, The Aviary expressed concern over an online campaign targeting the restaurant, describing it as troubling. The restaurant noted that many online users were calling for the closure of their business, threatening staff, and posting false reviews. “We hope this incident can, at least, illuminate the current absurdity of the discourse in our politics,” they said.
Eric was in Chicago for business, visiting the Trump Hotel Chicago, a Trump Organization property. He shared his visit to the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago on Twitter. Additionally, Eric joined his father, his adult siblings, and their partners on a state visit to the U.K., where he attended a formal banquet with the Queen.
He also accompanied his father to the family’s golf resort in Doonbeg, Ireland, where he and his elder brother, Donald Trump Jr., were photographed during a night out. Following the incident, The Aviary received mixed reactions: praise from Trump opponents who saw it as part of the resistance and criticism from Trump supporters who viewed it as disrespectful to the First Family. The restaurant owners expressed their reluctance to engage in the political debate, as reported by CBS News.
