Former President Donald Trump made a surprise stop at Downtown House of Pizza in Fort Myers, Florida, to greet his supporters and buy them pizza after giving a speech at the Lee County Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner. The former president's visit caused quite a stir among those present.
Trump handed out pizza slices to his delighted supporters and even took a bite out of one slice before jokingly offering it up. "Does anybody want a piece that I've eaten?" he asked with good humor. The crowd responded enthusiastically with several chants including "we love Trump!" and "thank you, Mr. President."
Jordan Dixon-Hamilton, a reporter for Breitbart News who follows Trump on Twitter, shared footage from the event which rapidly gained traction online. A video clip featuring the former president holding up his half-eaten pepperoni pizza has since gone viral on social media – amassing an estimated 1.9 million views since being shared late Friday evening (April 21).
In addition to enjoying their impromptu treat in downtown Fort Myers, attendees were able to capture photographs and exchange words with the former president as he praised the quality of the pizza.
According to market research company IBISWorld, this kind of publicity can only benefit businesses like Downtown House of Pizza: between 2018-2023, they report that US-based pizzerias have experienced an average annual growth rate of around three percent.
This is not the first time that Trump has treated people generously when it comes to fast food; during his presidency's tenure he famously offered players from North Dakota State University Bison football team fries and sandwiches from Chick-fil-A and McDonald's during their celebratory luncheon held at White House.
One supporter present at Downtown House of Pizza said “It was so great seeing him here! We didn't expect him but we're really grateful for our pizzas. This just shows how down-to-earth he is, and I think it's one of the reasons why people love him.”
As Trump continues to make public appearances and maintain a strong presence on social media, events like this demonstrate his ongoing connection with supporters. With 1.9 million views for a simple pizza-sharing moment, there's no denying that former President Trump still knows how to capture the attention of millions around the world.