Overview

• On Tuesday, President Trump said half of Washington’s restaurants closed because people were “afraid to go outside,” adding that friends are now returning to dine out.
• José Andrés called the statement a “flat out lie” and argued that troops with guns and federal agents are intimidating residents and harming restaurants.
• OpenTable data show seated reservations fell 16% on Aug. 11 and averaged nearly 25% below a year earlier from Aug. 12–15, coinciding with Trump’s law‑enforcement announcement and the deployment of roughly 800 National Guard members.
• Summer Restaurant Week boosted traffic and was extended through Aug. 31, with organizers saying about 230 of 380 participating restaurants signed on for the added week.
• The White House continues to assert that safety and business conditions are improving, while local restaurant leaders report a significant drop in reservations following the federal takeover.