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The site of the future Trump International Hotel, which is at the location of the Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington. (Mark Wilson, Getty Images)
Celebrity chef José Andrés said Wednesday that<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Donald Trump’s disparaging comments about immigrants have forced him to cancel plans to open a restaurant in Trump’s new hotel a few blocks from the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>White House.
Trump is spending $200 million to convert the historic Old Post Office Pavilion into a new Trump International Hotel, and Andrés was supposed to create the signature restaurant for the project.
The Washington Post has the story:
Andres, the co-owner of ThinkFoodGroup whose restaurant empire spans 18 restaurants and food trucks, multiple cookbooks <span style="color: Red;">*</span>and TV shows, described the move in a statement to The Washington Post as both a professional and personal one. The Spanish-born chef, who became an American citizen in 2013 after living in the U.S. for decades, frequently invokes his pride in being an immigrant.Andrés’ announcement is the latest in a series of Trump business partners who have severed ties with the real estate mogul since he announced his presidential candidacy. During his announcement, Trump said Mexican immigrants to the U.S. are “bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”
“Donald Trump’s recent statements disparaging immigrants make it impossible for my company and I to move forward with opening a successful Spanish restaurant in Trump International’s upcoming hotel in Washington, D.C.,” the statement reads. “More than half of my team is Hispanic, as are many of our guests. And, as a proud Spanish immigrant and recently naturalized American citizen myself, I believe that every human being deserves respect, regardless of immigration status.”
Macy’s, NBC and ESPN and NASCAR are among the partners who have<span style="color: Red;">*</span>canceled business with Trump. As with <span style="color: Red;">*</span>prior announcements, Trump has responded with the threat of legal action.
Trump’s son told the Post: “In the event Mr. Andrés defaults in the performance of his obligations, we will not hesitate to take legal action to recover all unpaid rent for the entire 10 year term together with all attorneys’ fees and additional damages we may sustain. We will also enforce the exclusivity provisions preventing Mr. Andrés from opening a competing restaurant anywhere in the D.C area.”
In an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, Trump dismissed any financial concerns about losing business partners because of his presidential bid. “This is too important. Yeah, I’m losing some contracts. Who cares?” he said. “They’re weak and they want to be politically correct. Some of them have already apologized to me and said they made a mistake.”
2016 presidential election, Donald Trump, Jose Andres, road to 2016, 2016<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
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