Vice President JD Vance was met with boos and heckles outside a Michelin-starred San Diego sushi restaurant over the Fourth of July weekend, as protesters linked him to deadly flooding in Texas.
Vance brought his family along on the trip, where he received the Claremont Institute's 2025 Statesmanship Award and attended GOP fundraising events.
On Sunday evening, Vance's 26-car motorcade shut down the street outside of Soichi Sushi in University Heights as demonstrators gathered, shouting "Get the hell out of San Diego," and "Fascists aren't welcome in North Park," according to videos posted online.
"I hope your Michelin-star sushi was worth it with 82 people dead in Texas. Thanks for cutting the National Weather Service," yelled one protestor, referencing criticism that recent federal budget cuts backed by the Trump administration interfered with flood forecasting and alerts that could have saved lives in Texas. Flash flooding ravaged communities along the Guadalupe river, with 108 confirmed deaths as of Tuesday, according to CNN.
The vice president's visit drew further protests earlier in the weekend, including outside the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club, where tickets to the Claremont dinner started at $2,500 per seat, KUSI reported. Vance, whose wife Usha Vance is originally from San Diego, was also spotted golfing and visiting family during the trip.
Soichi Sushi, which typically has a 60-day wait for reservations, has received backlash for hosting the vice president. Following an onslaught of 1-star reviews, Yelp is now monitoring their page.
"Wish I didn't give them money after serving JD Vance. Won't be going back," one diner wrote on Yelp. "I hope he enjoyed his food prepared by immigrants."
The Vice President has not commented on the protests University Heights served alongside his meal.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
