TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
May 5 , 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former President Donald Trump celebrated the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo on Saturday by visiting a Taco Bell restaurant in Virginia.
Trump arrived around noon at the fast food chain's location in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles outside Washington D.C. He was met by a crowd of supporters as well as protesters.
The former president spent approximately 45 minutes inside the restaurant. Video footage showed him ordering from the counter and posing for photos with employees and diners.
In a statement released by his office, Trump said he visited Taco Bell "to celebrate the incredible Mexican holiday" and show appreciation for "amazing Mexican food." He called Taco Bell "arguably the most authentic" Mexican restaurant he could find in the area.
The decision to mark Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, with a trip to the American fast food chain drew criticism from Latino advocacy groups.
"It's offensive and insulting for the former president to conflate Cinco de Mayo with low-quality Americanized Mexican food," said Rafael Calderon, president of the Latino Coalition. "This is a Mexican patriotic holiday, not a day to patronize cultural stereotypes."
The White House declined to comment on Trump's actions. However, President Biden released a statement recognizing Cinco de Mayo as "a celebration of Mexican-American culture, heritage and pride."
Trump has long faced accusations of insensitivity and hostility toward Mexican people and culture, dating back to his campaign announcement in 2015 when he referred to Mexican immigrants as "rapists." As president, he took a hardline stance on immigration from Mexico.
Saturday's Taco Bell visit was the latest in a series of surprising public outings for the former president since leaving office in January 2021. He has maintained a relatively low profile at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
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