One D.C. resident thinks celebrity chef José Andrés should “dump Trump.”
And the idea is catching on. About 680 people have signed a Change.org petition asking Andrés to rethink plans to open his eighth D.C.-based restaurant in the media mogul’s Trump International Hotel, which is set to open on Pennsylvania Avenue and 11th Street next year.
Erick Sanchez, a D.C. resident and Mexican American, started the petition three days ago, the Washington Post reported. The petition comes after remarks Trump made against Mexican immigrants during his presidential campaign announcement, when he said “they’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some, I assume, are good people.”
“Growing up my dad always told me you’re only as good as the company you keep, and I think he would benefit professionally from cutting ties,” the petition reads.
Since the comments, Macy’s, NBC and Univision, the Spanish-language network that broadcasts Trump-sponsored beauty pageants, announced they would cut ties with him.
Andrés, who emigrated from Spain, tweeted last week that his “views on immigration are clear. All men and women should be treated respectfully regardless of their status.” A former adjunct professor at GW and a member of GW’s Urban Food Task Force, Andrés opened a restaurant on campus last spring, and was the University Commencement speaker in 2014.