A former Democratic National Committee staffer was kicked out of a Washington, D.C., restaurant Thursday night after accosting a fellow patron who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.
TJ Helmstetter, whose LinkedIn page identifies him as a former associate communications director for the DNC and who is a self-identified “progressive communicator,” tweeted that he was kicked out of Hill Country Barbecue Market after confronting the patron in the “MAGA hat” and accusing him of being a “Nazi.”
Helmstetter added more context to the situation, saying, “Guy wears MAGA hat at my favorite restaurant. I say ‘hey are you from dc?’ He says ‘no.’ I say ‘we don’t tolerate racism in this city.’ His girlfriend then physically jabs fingers into my chest and starts threatening me. Management tells me to leave, not woman who assaulted me.”
Just called the manager there and his answer was “we are an equal opportunity restaurant who welcomes all political viewpoints” before hanging up on me. cool, except MAGA hats actually make clear that POC and LGBT are not welcome at all.
— TJ Helmstetter (@TheTJHelm) July 5, 2019
After arguing that people should no longer go there because “they support Trump and Nazis,” he explained that he “Just called the manager there and his answer was ‘we are an equal opportunity restaurant who welcomes all political viewpoints’ before hanging up on me. cool, except MAGA hats actually make clear that [people of color] and LGBT are not welcome at all.”
Many social media users either mocked or criticized Helmstetter’s argument.
I am gay and have a MAGA hat you dumbass. https://t.co/UZmmq753l5
— Chris Barron (@ChrisRBarron) July 5, 2019
Assuming someone is a Nazi because they are wearing a Trump hat is ignorant and trying to ruin his night is rude. Glad to see @HillCountryBBQ handled this appropriately. https://t.co/vRCcllN4RE
— Rachel Stoltzfoos (@RachelStoltz) July 5, 2019
Intolerant man harasses people trying to have dinner and is shocked that he is asked to leave. https://t.co/KFvwGIQo0k
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) July 5, 2019
This guy was harassing a Trump supporter in the restaurant and now claims to be the victim. https://t.co/TOvLAosO0k
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 5, 2019
This is the saddest thing anyone has ever intentionally tweeted about themselves pic.twitter.com/tYi2VBH1s9
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) July 5, 2019
