A Mexican restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona, found itself the target of negative Yelp reviews following a campaign event attended by Biden on Tuesday.
The event at El Portal was the backdrop for the launch of Latinos con Biden-Harris, an initiative aimed at engaging and mobilizing Latino voters across the country.
Biden’s visit to the restaurant drew criticism from some Yelp users and locals who accused the establishment of endorsing his policies, particularly highlighting his stance on the conflict in Gaza.
The backlash was evident in a series of one-star reviews on Yelp, where users expressed their disapproval of the restaurant’s decision to host the event. Some highlighted Biden’s support for Israel during its military operations against Hamas in Gaza.
One Yelp user from Scottsdale, Arizona, identified as Laith, criticized the restaurant for hosting “genocide Joe Biden,” referencing the conflict in Gaza. Another user named Nadeen from Pennsylvania accused the restaurant owners of being complicit in genocide for welcoming Biden, who they allege is involved in the deaths of Palestinian children.
Jennifer from Phoenix expressed her opposition to the restaurant’s decision, stating, “I don’t support restaurants that host someone that oppresses my people.”
The negative reviews also included references to past controversies involving Biden, such as allegations of inappropriate behavior. One user jokingly claimed, “This old man sniffed my hair.”
President Biden’s roughly 12-minute speech at El Portal focused on the importance of Latino voters, a group critical to his electoral success in 2020 and expected to play a significant role in the upcoming election.
Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden’s campaign manager, emphasized the significance of Latino voters in a written statement marking the launch of Latinos con Biden-Harris, stating, “The Latino vote was critical to the President’s victory in 2020, and 2024 will be no different.”
Despite the backlash, the restaurant has not publicly commented on the negative reviews or the event itself.
The incident underscores the political polarization in the United States and the impact it can have on businesses that decide to get involved politically, such as this particular incident. As the country gears up for another election cycle, tensions are likely to remain high, with businesses potentially facing scrutiny for hosting political events.
