This is despicable.
In another ugly scene out of Washington, D.C., Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were chased out of a Union Station Shake Shack on Wednesday after being loudly booed, heckled, and harassed by angry protesters.
The two Trump officials had stopped at the popular restaurant to meet National Guard troops deployed to the capital under President Donald Trump’s new law-and-order initiative. Both men greeted soldiers and personally handed out burgers — but left-wing agitators outside made it clear they weren’t welcome.
Protesters Launch Vulgar Attacks
Videos posted to social media show demonstrators shouting “Free D.C.!” while others chanted radical slogans like “From D.C. to Palestine, occupation is a crime.” Some in the crowd hurled foul insults at Vance and Hegseth as they walked into the building, in full view of shocked bystanders.
Vance Fires Back: “These People Don’t Know Danger”
Speaking to reporters, Vice President Vance dismissed the protesters as “a bunch of old, primarily white activists who complain about safety policies while never facing danger in their lives.”
Defense Secretary Hegseth, a U.S. Army veteran, ignored the mob and focused on thanking the troops. “We’re here to support the men and women keeping this city safe,” he said.
WATCH:
At Union Station, @VP JD Vance and @PeteHegseth just walked into the Shake Shack here for an anticipated photo opp with National Guardsmen. Protestors followed them in and are now shouting at them from the first floor. @GrayDCnews pic.twitter.com/4G4EVM6Yn3
— Caitrin Assaf (@caitrinassaf) August 20, 2025
Trump Restores Order In the Capital
The chaos comes just days after President Trump signed a sweeping executive order putting Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and ordering the deployment of National Guard troops.
“Crime is out of control in the District of Columbia,” Trump declared, pointing to soaring violent incidents in the capital — even as critics tried to downplay the reality.
Residents Split As Federal Presence Expands
A Washington Post–Schar School poll found nearly two-thirds of D.C. residents claim Trump’s plan won’t reduce crime. Yet over half admitted they’ve noticed more federal officers patrolling the streets — and 61% of those said the stronger presence makes them feel “less safe.”
Conservatives argue the numbers show liberal bias, not reality, since Washington voters overwhelmingly oppose Trump no matter the facts on the ground.
Miller: “We’re Going To Ignore These Hippies”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller ripped into the demonstrators, calling them “elderly white hippies who’ve never been part of this city and need to go home and take a nap.”
He added: “We’re focused on protecting the American people — not pandering to radicals who want to turn D.C. into another failed left-wing experiment.”
Vance: “We’re Freeing D.C. For Families”
Vice President Vance ended with a firm message: “We’re going to free Washington, D.C., so that young families can walk safely at night. That’s the goal. Safety, security, and peace of mind for every American.”