WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding Mexican immigrants has cost the billionaire yet another business opportunity.
On Wednesday, celebrity chef and restaurateur José Andrés announced he will no longer be opening a restaurant in D.C.’s soon-to-be Trump International Hotel.
“Donald Trump’s recent statements disparaging immigrants make it impossible for my company and I to move forward with opening a successful Spanish restaurant in Trump International’s upcoming hotel in Washington, D.C.,” Andrés said in a statement.
“More than half of my team is Hispanic, as are many of our guests. And, as a proud Spanish immigrant and recently naturalized American citizen myself, I believe that every human being deserves respect, regardless of immigration status.”
Since the weekend, more than 2,600 supporters signed a petition calling on Andrés to abandon his plans for the restaurant, which he announced in January.
“We are proud to have José Andrés in Washington, D.C., which is why we hope he decides that Donald Trump is not someone he should do business with. We are excited to dine at all of his other locations, but surely this planned Trump location could relocate elsewhere,” the petition states.
Andrés is the latest business partner to sever ties with Trump since he made the public remarks upon entering the 2016 Presidential campaign in June. Macy’s, NBCUniversal, Univision and PGA have also distanced themselves from the candidate.
D.C.’s Trump International Hotel is expected to open at the historic Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest in 2016.
