Pro-Palestine activists disrupted a high-profile dinner in Washington, DC, attended by US President Donald Trump and senior Cabinet members, highlighting tensions over both domestic security measures and US policy in the Middle East.
The event, held at a restaurant near the White House, was designed to showcase the administration’s efforts to crack down on crime in the capital and to highlight improvements in safety under federal oversight. Among the attendees were Vice President JD Vance, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
However, the gathering was interrupted by demonstrators from the anti-war activist group CODEPINK, who staged protests both inside and outside the venue.
The protesters chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Free DC,” accusing President Trump of “terrorising communities in DC” while simultaneously “terrorising Gaza.” Some activists managed to briefly enter the indoor space of the restaurant, drawing attention to their cause, while others rallied outside with banners and megaphones.
The dinner represented one of the rare public outings for Trump in Washington since the beginning of his second term, as the president has largely avoided local restaurants. Before entering the venue, Trump praised the deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops to the capital, claiming that their presence had helped reduce crime rates.
He also hinted at further announcements regarding federal crackdowns and deployments in other Democratic-led cities, stating that more details would be revealed “probably tomorrow” in coordination with the respective state governors.
While the administration has argued that the increased use of federal forces is necessary to maintain law and order, local officials have challenged these claims, noting that crime rates were already on a downward trend. The protest, however, underscored the connection activists see between domestic security policies and US foreign policy.
CODEPINK leaders emphasized that the militarized policing of American cities is inseparable from the militarized occupation and violence abroad, particularly in Gaza, which has been devastated by war since October 2023. According to reports, over 64,600 Palestinians have been killed, and the region continues to face famine and humanitarian crises.
The demonstration thus served a dual purpose: to challenge Trump’s domestic security agenda and to draw public attention to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. By interrupting a high-profile political event, the activists sought to highlight what they described as the moral and political link between the administration’s actions at home and its role in supporting Israel’s military campaign abroad.
The protest reflected ongoing public opposition to US foreign and domestic policies, bringing global issues of war and peace directly into the heart of Washington’s political scene.
