White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders Asked To Leave Red Hen Restaurant

On Thursday night, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave a restaurant in Lexington, Virginia, named the Red Hen.

Sanders explained the incident on Friday via Twitter:

Last night I was told by the owner of Red Hen in Lexington, VA to leave because I work for @POTUS and I politely left. Her actions say far more about her than about me. I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) June 23, 2018

The restaurant owner, Stephanie Wilkinson, told The Washington Post that she received a phone call around 8 p.m. when Sanders and seven others were seated in the small establishment. They had already been served cheese plates and their main courses were being cooked.

“I’m not a huge fan of confrontation,” Wilkinson, who then went to her restaurant after receiving the call. “I have a business, and I want the business to thrive. This feels like the moment in our democracy when people have to make uncomfortable actions and decisions to uphold their morals.”

Wilkinson said she politely asked Sanders to leave due to the restaurant’s integrity.

“I explained that the restaurant has certain standards that I feel it has to uphold, such as honesty, and compassion, and cooperation. I said, ‘I’d like to ask you to leave,'” Wilkinson told The Washington Post. 

According to Wilkinson, Sanders replied, “That’s fine, I’ll go.”

Sanders’ father and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, shared his fiery response to the incident on his Twitter account.

Bigotry. On the menu at Red Hen Restaurant in Lexington VA. Or you can ask for the “Hate Plate”. And appetizers are “small plates for small minds” https://t.co/rHEVdcQwwh

— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 23, 2018

Sanders also took heat from the former director of the federal government’s Office of Ethics, Walter Shaub.

Sarah, I know you don’t care even a tiny little bit about the ethics rules, but using your official account for this is a clear violation of 5 CFR 2635.702(a). It’s the same as if an ATF agent pulled out his badge when a restaurant tried to throw him/her out. https://t.co/Fj6OfBAdew

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 23, 2018

The restaurant’s Facebook page has seen both support for removing Sanders as well as criticism.