President Donald Trump made a rare foray into Washington’s restaurant scene Tuesday night, dining at ‘Joe’s Seafood,’ Prime Steak & Stone Crab, just blocks from the White House.

This was the first time in years that Trump, who has long favoured meals at BLT Prime inside his now-sold Trump International Hotel, visited a public restaurant in the nation’s capital that was not his own.

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The dinner, attended by top members of his administration, unfolded under the glare of the public spotlight with protesters around.

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Who were the protesters?

Inside the hotel, protesters from the anti-war group Code Pink confronted the president with chants of “Free D.C., free Palestine, Trump is the Hitler of our time,” as seen in videos posted to social media and later aired by CNN.

Trump appeared to calmly stare them down before taking his seat.

In a video shared by the White House, Trump addressed fellow diners, striking a confident tone about the state of the capital. “We have a safe city. Enjoy yourselves, you won’t be mugged going home. Don’t drink too much.”

Trump, now officially a Florida resident, was joined by Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and other senior officials, including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

What was Trump’s statement?

Speaking to reporters outside before entering the hotel, Trump said, “I wouldn’t have done this three months ago, four months ago certainly not a year ago. This was one of the most unsafe cities in the country. Now it is as safe as it is in the country. The restaurants now are booming. People are going out to dinner where they didn’t for years, and it’s a safe city. I just want to thank the National Guard.”

Why did Trump step out for the dinner?

While D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has cooperated with parts of the federal intervention, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit opposing the use of armed military personnel in civilian policing.

Trump has sharply criticised the lawsuit but praised Bowser’s collaboration, describing the capital’s transformation as a “spectacular outcome”.

When asked why he had never eaten at any non-Trump restaurant in D.C. during his first term, he challenged the reporter’s assertion: “How do you know? Do you want me to prove you wrong?”

Earlier in the day, Vice President Vance and Secretary Hegseth had drawn similar attention when they visited National Guard troops stationed at Union Station and brought them Shake Shack burgers, attracting a separate round of protesters.

Regardless of recent claims by the Trump administration about a revival of nightlife and dining in the capital, many D.C. restaurant owners say business has declined since the National Guard deployment.

Some diners view the military presence as intimidating, while others see it as a partisan statement.