Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she was asked to leave a restaurant in Little Rock because her presence made the employees feel “threatened.”
The Republican governor said that she joined two “other moms” for a Friday lunch at The Croissanterie, accompanied by her State Police Executive Protection Detail, according to a statement by the governor’s office.
Mrs. Sanders said that after being seated in the restaurant for about an hour and 15 minutes and after her group had paid, the restaurant’s owner approached a member of the security detail and requested that the governor leave because her presence “made their employees feel threatened.”
The Croissanterie explained in a lengthy written statement that when they became aware of the governor’s arrival at the restaurant, they were “surprised and uncertain how best to respond.”
Because she and her staff were already seated and eating, the managers chose not to interrupt, expecting that the party would “complete their meal and depart without issue.”
As the security detail became more widely noticed, questions were raised, the restaurant said.
“As business owners and members of this community, we recognized that any course of action carried consequences. 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. Conversely, asking her to leave could be viewed as denying service based on differing beliefs,” the statement reads.
In its statement, the restaurant acknowledged discreetly asking a member of the security detail to encourage the governor to conclude. But she remained and the party was still there as the 90-minute table seating limit was reached.
The security detail was informed a second time, regarding the time limit, and about that time, a customer made an “inappropriate hand gesture.”
The restaurant said the customer was asked to step away.
Once the message about the 90-minute limit was received, she and her party “departed without incident,” the restaurant said.
The Croissanterie denies “indicating that anyone felt threatened,” but said it made the decision to “support our employees and guests who expressed they were uncomfortable.”
“We regret being placed in this position and having to make a difficult decision,” it said. “However, we stand by our choice to support our employees and guests.”
Mrs. Sanders saw the incident in a much different light.
“Arkansans are known for their warm hospitality, and while that restaurant certainly doesn’t meet that standard, my administration will continue to focus on lifting Arkansans up, not tearing others down with discrimination and hate,” she said in a statement.
This week’s Little Rock lunch was not the first time Mrs. Sanders has been asked to leave a restaurant.
When she was White House press secretary in 2018, she was kicked out of a Lexington, Virginia, restaurant because she worked for President Trump.
Red Hen co-owner Stephanie Wilkinson consulted with her staff about what to do when some expressed distaste for the administration.
“Tell me what you want me to do. I can ask her to leave,” she said she told them. “They said yes.”
