Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave a Little Rock restaurant after the owners told her that her presence made employees feel “threatened and uncomfortable” because of her political views. As Sanders and her group departed, staff members flipped her off in front of other diners.
Sanders was having lunch with two friends at The Croissanterie in Little Rock when the owner approached her security detail and relayed the request. The group had already finished eating and paid before being told to leave. Sanders chose to exit without a confrontation, but staff then shouted “It’s time to leave” and gave her the middle finger as she walked out.
“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. “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.”
The restaurant said in a statement obtained by THV 11, “When we became aware that the governor had arrived at the restaurant announced, we were surprised and uncertain how best to respond. By the time we entered the dining room, she was already seated and eating. At that point, we chose not to interrupt, expecting that the party would complete their meal and depart without issue.”
“However, as the presence of her security detail became more widely noticed, by both employees and guests, questions were raised about them remaining in the restaurant. 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,” the statement continued. “Conversely, asking her to leave could be viewed as denying service based on differing beliefs.”
The incident echoes a nearly identical confrontation from June 2018, when Sanders was serving as White House press secretary. The Red Hen, a small restaurant in Lexington, Virginia, told Sanders and her family to leave because she worked for President Trump. The episode drew national attention and favorable coverage from outlets including the Washington Post, which praised the owner for “taking a stand.” The Red Hen permanently closed in 2023.
