Mexican restaurant threatened after owner's daughter endorses Trump
Share and Follow

Following the owner’s daughter expressing support for Donald Trump, the staff at a Mexican restaurant has faced threats and a barrage of negative reviews.

Tortas Manantial, in Phoenix, Arizona, came under fire following a post from Karla Barbosa which showed her sporting a red MAGA hat. 

Barbosa, the daughter of restaurant owner Marco Antonio Barbosa, posted on Instagram, leading many to interpret it as an approval of the president.

‘Many are mad but trust the process,’ Barbosa’s caption read. ‘America will be great again.’

The post spread rapidly, sparking strong reactions from numerous members of the Phoenix community. Many called for a boycott of the restaurant, alleging that it was betraying immigrants amidst the ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] actions in the United States.

Barbosa quickly turned her account private, but not before she was flooded with negative comments.

Her father’s premises was similarly targeted and currently has a 2.5 star rating on Yelp, which has turned off reviews amid the furor.

‘What matters most to me is that this has reached the point of threatening the business, and that worries me for my teams,’ Owner Marco Antonio Barbosa said in a video addressing the controversy.

Staff at a Mexican restaurant have been threatened and bombarded with negative reviews after the owner's daughter came out as Donald Trump supporter

Staff at a Mexican restaurant have been threatened and bombarded with negative reviews after the owner’s daughter came out as Donald Trump supporter 

Owner Marco Antonio Barbosa said he and his family are not against immigrants following a controversial social media post of his daughter expressing her support for President Donald Trump

Owner Marco Antonio Barbosa said he and his family are not against immigrants following a controversial social media post of his daughter expressing her support for President Donald Trump

‘They are the ones I am truly concerned about for their peace of mind.’

Reviews over the last few days have been overwhelmingly negative, with many directly addressing the scandal.

‘I won’t be supporting a business that disrespects its own roots while promoting divisive values,’ one reviewer wrote. 

‘Do yourself a favor and take your money somewhere that truly respects its customers and the culture it profits from.’

‘The food is bland, overpriced, and terrible. The service was slow while the ambiance screams danger. The establishment also supports Donald Trump. That’s a big red flag,’ another added. 

‘Racists to their own people we here all live together as one all different races and ethnicities mixed,’ one reviewer said.

‘You forget where you came from to the owners. And by the reviews your food ain’t worth the money anyway. Don’t sell Mexican food if you don’t like the culture and people.’

The restaurant’s owner insisted he is not against immigrants and claimed that he and his wife in the past have been victims of anti-immigrant sentiment.

Social media users have called for a boycott of the four Tortas Manantial locations in the Arizona area

Social media users have called for a boycott of the four Tortas Manantial locations in the Arizona area

Karla Barbosa's post caused her father's business to be flooded with negative reviews which caused Yelp to put a warning on its page

Karla Barbosa’s post caused her father’s business to be flooded with negative reviews which caused Yelp to put a warning on its page

‘I just found out that there is a video circulating about things like we are against our people, against immigrants, which is totally false,’ he said.

‘We’ve had to live through many very difficult things that we wouldn’t wish on anyone, and we would be the last to oppose something that could hurt our people,’ he said.

Barbosa’s mea-culpa did not sit well with people who flocked to the business’ Instagram account.

‘With much respect, sir, but your daughters were the ones who posted everything about the president,’ one person wrote. ‘This conversation would have happened with your daughters who posted things on social media.’

‘Extremely disappointed to find out about them being Trump supporters during this time and to say trust the process,’ another user said.

One person went as far as slamming Barbosa for appearing in front of the camera and shielding his daughter.

‘Mr. Barboza, don’t fool us. If your daughter had the courage to voluntarily upload a video wearing a Trump hat and repeating phrases from his election campaign,’ they wrote. 

‘Let her also have enough courage to come forward and offer a genuine apology to the immigrant community, whom you say is so important. Until you do that, your ‘apology’ is merely regret for the damage the business will suffer.’

Marco Antonio Barbosa (left) with his wife (center) and daughter Karla Barbosa (right). The father says he has been subjected to anti immigrant sentiment himself before

Marco Antonio Barbosa (left) with his wife (center) and daughter Karla Barbosa (right). The father says he has been subjected to anti immigrant sentiment himself before

Another user said the controversy has made them rethink their decision to dine there.

‘Damn, that’s sad. I really wanted to try this place out when I go out there, but I will definitely not support this place anymore,’ they wrote.

A Tortas Manantial employee told the Daily Mail that they were not interested in talking with the media. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
WATCH: Teen arrested after alleged wild shovel attack on police cruiser in ritzy Florida neighborhood

Shocking Incident: Teen Allegedly Attacks Police Cruiser with Shovel in Upscale Florida Area

A teenager from Florida has found herself in legal trouble after reportedly…
Eddie Murphy survived fame with sanity marking 50 years in showbiz

Eddie Murphy Celebrates 50 Years in Showbiz: How He Maintained Sanity Amidst Fame

Eddie Murphy is back in the spotlight, continuing to bring laughter to…
What gives the Giants a leg up in their coaching search

Discover the Key Advantage Boosting the Giants in Their Hunt for a New Coach

When a prospective head coach evaluates a new opportunity, two critical questions…
Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown gets $25K bail and GPS monitor on Miami attempted murder charge

Former NFL Star Antonio Brown Released on $25K Bail with GPS Monitoring Following Miami Attempted Murder Charge

Antonio Brown, 37, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges…
Coen: Too early to decide Travis Hunter's future as a two-way player

Coen Weighs In: The Future of Travis Hunter as a Dual-Position Star Remains Uncertain

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Liam Coen, expressed the team’s intention to review…
Jacksonville honors those who served with spectacular Veterans Day parade

Jacksonville Commemorates Veterans Day with a Remarkable Parade to Honor Service Members

In a vibrant display of patriotism, the streets of downtown Jacksonville were…
Trump bristles as Laura Ingraham asks if gold is from Home Depot

Laura Ingraham’s Home Depot Question Leaves Trump Unamused

Donald Trump recently unveiled the lavish ’24-karat gold’ accents in his newly…
IDF eliminates terrorist in 'another ceasefire violation' in Gaza

IDF Strikes Back: Ceasefire Breach in Gaza Sparks Tense Clashes

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Tuesday that they had intercepted…