Stark Divide Echoes in DC as Vice President JD Vance Faces Protests Over National Guard Deployment
In a display of divided sentiments, Vice President JD Vance hosted a lunch at Union Station’s Shake Shack to express gratitude towards National Guard members deployed in Washington D.C., following an order by President Donald Trump. However, the event was disrupted by demonstrators who expressed their dissent through boos and chants of “USA, USA, USA.”
As Vance entered the establishment, shaking hands and posing for photographs, the growing cacophony of protests overshadowed his press conference. In response to the uproar, Vance described the protesters as “crazy” and “communists,” while White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller labeled them as “elderly white hippies.”
Vance and other administration officials were prevented from accessing the second floor of the Shake Shack. Protesting crowds gathered outside, voicing their disapproval with chants such as “shame,” “this is our city,” and “we want the military out of our streets.”
Amidst the tumultuous reception, Vance emphasized that Union Station has been plagued by drug addicts, vagrants, and the chronically homeless in recent years. He stated, “We have changed so much in nine days, and I thought it important to highlight how great of a space this could be, how easy it could be to actually enjoy something like Union Station if you just had politicians who stopped prioritizing violent criminals over the public citizens who deserve public safety in their own communities.”
However, one customer, Jay Swanson, expressed disdain for Vance’s presence, stating, “It’s disgusting, I lost my appetite.” The visit underscored the significant disparity between the Trump administration and Washington D.C. residents, with polls indicating that a majority of DC residents oppose the president’s decision to take control of the city’s police department and deploy the National Guard and FBI for patrol duties.
Despite this opposition, many National Guard members at the Shake Shack had arrived from red states such as South Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee, reflecting a broader national deployment. One college student at Union Station questioned the necessity of the National Guard presence, stating she believed the crime rate in D.C. was decreasing.
Democrats and local officials have voiced concerns over the Trump administration’s intervention in D.C., particularly when local crime statistics have improved over previous years. Vance argued that he believes crime statistics nationwide are “massively underreported.” However, his assertion lacked supporting evidence from the Department of Justice or FBI.
As speculation swirls about potential manipulation of crime data by Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, two sources have reportedly informed CNN that the Justice Department is investigating these claims. As Vance concluded his lunch and descended to the main floor, a man’s loud boos followed him, to which Vance responded, “I heard you buddy.”
Outside Union Station, a second group of protesters assembled near parked National Guard tanks, continuing to shout and wave signs that read, “Criminals out of DC? Start with the Epstein files.” This incident marks another instance of contention between the Trump administration and Washington D.C. residents regarding security measures in the city.