D.C. pizzeria owners scrambling after Trump 'congratulations' blows up in their face

The owners of a Washington, D.C. pizzeria are having to deal with an avalanche of blowback after posting on social media what they thought was an innocuous message directed at President-elect Donald Trump.

The day after Trump's election win over Vice President Kamala Harris, Menomale Pizza co-founder Mariya Rusciano posted on X and Facebook, "The people have spoken. @realDonaldTrump won the popular vote and the electoral college Congratulations! Can we gift @WhiteHouse a nice Italian wood burning pizza oven?"

That set off an online firestorm with one commenter bluntly stating: "Do the owners realize that Team Trump has declared war on Washington DC and the federal workforce?”

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According to a report from the Washington Post, Rusciano and her husband Ettore are doing damage control and attempting to explain that they had a similar message prepared for Harris is she won, responding to a commenter with, "...we’re trying to put a wood burning pizza oven in The White House. This post is a statement of fact and a shot at an awesome opportunity, because America is the land of opportunity. The same post would’ve gone out if @VP Harris won last night."

Despite that, the damage is already done with the Post reporting, "Instead of a reply from the White House, Rusciano’s message has drawn scores of irate social media posts and private messages from neighbors and customers who clearly were in no mood to welcome the president-elect."

According to the owner, she felt she was making a shrewd marketing move and attempted to explain on social media by writing, "No matter who wins, America is still the land of opportunity and what a great opportunity it would be to install an Italian pizza oven at the White House? Our pizza is apolitical, we are an example of what can be achieved in America through hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit.”

The report adds that she said the business hasn't been impacted much, with one employee admitting they noticed slower business afterward.

You can read more here.