Celebrity chef, Trump Organization settle lawsuit
WASHINGTON (AP) – Celebrity chef Jose Andres has settled his dispute with The Trump Organization after backing out of a plan to open a restaurant in Washington’s Trump hotel.
Andres’ ThinkFoodGroup and The Trump Organization issued a statement Friday saying the lawsuit has been settled. The deal’s terms are confidential.
The lawsuit dates to 2015 when Andres backed out of a plan to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in Washington, citing then-candidate Donald Trump’s statements “disparaging immigrants.” Andres, who has several restaurants in the city, is an immigrant from Spain.
Andres announced he was backing out of the restaurant following Trump’s comments in June 2015 that some Mexican immigrants bring drugs and crime to the U.S., and some are rapists. The Trump Organization then sued.
On Friday, both parties said in a statement that they have settled amicably.
“I am pleased that we were able to resolve our differences and move forward cooperatively, as friends,” Andres said in the statement. “Going forward, we are excited about the prospects of working together with the Trump Organization on a variety of programs to benefit the community.”
Donald Trump Jr., one of Trump’s sons who is running The Trump Organization, praised Andres.
“I am glad that we are able to put this matter behind us and move forward as friends,” he wrote.
Washington’s Trump hotel, which is in the historic Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue, opened in October 2016. The hotel’s signature restaurant is a steakhouse, BLT Prime by David Burke.