President Donald Trump ordered a review by the U.S. Secret Service after growing concerns that a security breach involving Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene may have exposed his location to hostile protesters, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter.
The episode stems from a tense confrontation last September at a high-end Washington, D.C., steakhouse, where Trump was confronted at close range by pro-Palestinian demonstrators during a private dinner with Vice President JD Vance and other senior administration figures. The incident has since become a flashpoint in what aides describe as a dramatic collapse in Trump’s once-close relationship with Greene.
Trump had visited Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab as part of a broader effort to publicly demonstrate that his deployment of National Guard troops to the capital had improved public safety. Instead, the dinner was disrupted when members of Code Pink, an anti-war activist group, entered the restaurant and shouted slogans including “Free Palestine” and “Trump is the Hitler of our time.”
The protesters reportedly stood just feet away from the president, separated only by a table, triggering alarm among White House officials—particularly given that the incident occurred less than a year after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
According to aides who spoke on condition of anonymity, Trump came to believe that Greene may have tipped off the activists about his location. The president subsequently reported his concerns to the Secret Service, requesting a review of how the demonstrators obtained real-time information about his whereabouts.
Officials told Axios that the episode marked a “point of no return” in Trump’s relationship with Greene, transforming a long-simmering rift into open distrust.
Greene has forcefully denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, she called the allegation that she leaked Trump’s dinner plans “an absolute lie” and described it as dangerous. She acknowledged recommending the restaurant to Trump but insisted she had no knowledge of when he planned to dine there.
“I would never do that,” Greene said. “I didn’t know when he was going.”
White House officials, however, claim Greene repeatedly contacted staffers on the day of the dinner to confirm whether Trump would attend. According to sources, Trump later informed Greene shortly before departing the White House that he intended to visit the steakhouse. Greene denies receiving that information.
Compounding suspicions, aides noted that Greene did not appear at the restaurant that evening, despite previously expressing interest in joining the president.
It remains unclear whether the Secret Service launched a formal investigation into Greene’s actions. Greene declined to confirm whether she had been contacted by federal agents, instead redirecting criticism toward security protocols.
“The story you should be writing,” she said, “is why didn’t the Secret Service sweep the restaurant.”
A spokesperson for Code Pink flatly rejected claims that Greene warned the group about Trump’s location. Melissa Garriga, speaking on behalf of the organization, dismissed the allegation as absurd.
“That absolutely did not happen,” Garriga said. “To the point it is comical.”
White House officials acknowledge they lack direct evidence linking Greene to the leak but cite two factors fueling suspicion: Greene’s communications with staff on the day of the dinner and her longstanding personal relationship with Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin.
Greene has openly acknowledged her friendship with Benjamin, despite sharp ideological differences with most of the activist group. Both Greene and Code Pink share opposition to U.S. military support for Israel, a rare overlap that has drawn scrutiny from Trump allies.
The protest group publicly praised Greene last year for opposing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, and Benjamin visited Greene in November shortly after Greene announced her resignation from Congress.
“I have enjoyed a friendship with Medea for a few years now,” Greene said at the time. “Even though politics says that’s not allowed.”
Trump’s relationship with Greene had already been deteriorating prior to the restaurant incident. Early in his second term, Trump warned Greene that internal polling showed she was likely to lose a Georgia Senate race to a Democrat. After receiving that assessment, Greene began publicly criticizing the president, accusing him of abandoning his “America First” agenda.
What had once been a high-profile alliance between Trump and one of his most vocal congressional defenders has since unraveled into mutual suspicion and public recriminations. The alleged security breach—and Trump’s decision to involve the Secret Service—appears to have sealed that break.
For now, neither the White House nor the Secret Service has commented publicly on whether any findings resulted from the president’s complaint. The episode nonetheless underscores heightened sensitivity around presidential security—and the political fallout when trust within Trump’s inner circle fractures.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
