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Las Vegas restaurant owner who hosted Trump responds to boycott calls
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Las Vegas restaurant owner who hosted Trump responds to boycott calls

A Las Vegas restaurant owner has faced calls for a boycott since inviting former President Trump to a press conference about his “no tip tax” policy, but he has no plans to bow to the pressure.

“I was so grateful that President Donald Trump was in my restaurant. (But) I’ve had a lot of phone calls, a lot of TikToks that people have made, talking bad about me and my restaurant, but at the same time I’ve also had a lot of good responses,” Javier Barajas told “Fox & Friends First” on Thursday.

Barajas owns the Mexican-Italian restaurant II Toro e La Capra, where the former president announced his “no tax on tips” policy in a televised message last month.

He spoke positively about Trump and his idea at the time, a local outlet reported, and doubled down on his support on Thursday, telling co-host Carley Shimkus that he supports the GOP candidate’s immigration policies and believes Trump will do more to support the working class.

“We support President Donald Trump because we know he will do much better for the people who work hard in our country,” he said of the Hispanic community.


Former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at ll Toro E La Capra restaurant in Las Vegas on August 23, 2024.
Former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at ll Toro E La Capra restaurant in Las Vegas on August 23, 2024. AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

“He knows the United States needs people to come to work, not to be (offenders). We’re not happy with what President Biden did: opening the border to millions and millions of people without checking their criminal records.”

“In 2008, President Obama promised a lot of things for the working class, but they (his administration) never did anything,” he added.

Barajas also has more confidence in Trump when it comes to the economy, indicating that it has been difficult to keep his doors open since President Biden took office.


Owner Javier Barajas said he "satisfying" to receive Trump at his restaurant.
Owner Javier Barajas said he was “grateful” to have Trump at his restaurant. AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

“Everything is very expensive,” he said.

“President Donald Trump — he’s a businessman. I know he’s going to do a much better job for us.”

The Barajas family also runs the Lindo Michoacan restaurants, which serve Mexican cuisine in the area.

According to KLAS-TV, a CBS station based in Las Vegas, President Biden visited one of the sites in July, just before announcing he was dropping out of the 2024 race.