The owner of a pizza shop in Washington D.C. is speaking out after she was ruthlessly attacked on social media for congratulating Donald Trump for winning the presidential election.
Mariya Rusciano and her husband Ettore, who is originally from Naples, Italy, have been running Menomale Pizza in the Brookland neighborhood since 2012.
According to multiple reports, Rusciano was behind the post on X that riled up so many D.C. locals, 92 percent of whom voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.
‘The people have spoken. @realDonaldTrump won the popular vote and the electoral college. Congratulations!’ she wrote on November 6, the day after the election. ‘Can we gift @WhiteHouse a nice Italian wood burning pizza oven?’
The reaction to the post from Rusciano, who is a registered Democrat according to Fox News, was swift and unforgiving.
‘What an odd tweet! You were on my radar as I spend a lot of time in Brookland but I am so confused – are you trying to go out of business?’ one local replied.
Several others threatened to boycott the restaurant or left nasty, profanity-laden comments for what they thought was a ‘tone-deaf’ response to the election results.
‘Made it pretty easy to skip your business. I live in Brookland too,’ another person wrote.
‘Thanks for exposing who you are! Will never be buying anything from this business,’ a third wrote.
Mariya Rusciano and her husband Ettore (pictured together) run Menomale Pizza together. Their business was attacked for congratulating Donald Trump on winning the election
Pictured: Rusciano’s post-Election Day message, which angered many D.C. locals, some of whom threatened boycotts
The negative reaction to her post was mostly limited to social media, she told Fox, though she did say the pizzeria did receive some emails. She also claimed a woman yelled profanities from outside the restaurant.
Rusciano told Fox and NBC 4 Washington that she would have posted the congratulatory message regardless of who won the election.
In a post to Instagram on Election Day – which got barely any attention – Rusciano mentioned both Trump and Harris.
‘We’d really like to see a pizza oven in the White House,’ Rusciano told NBC. ‘Whether it happens or not — it’s a longshot — but it’s an opportunity.’
She also hoped to get across a message of unity in a time when Americans are increasingly divided politically.
In a post to Instagram on Election Day, Rusciano mentioned both candidates and suffered no backlash whatsoever.
‘Whether we wake up to a Trump or Harris presidency tomorrow, America will still remain the land of opportunity, a melting pot of cultures where all have a shot at the American Dream,’ she wrote. ‘We are forever thankful for the chance to build our American Dream right here in DC!’
Her original post on X has now been flooded with supportive comments and promises to visit her pizzeria after the media coverage.
After the pizzeria’s post was initially perceived as supportive of Donald Trump (pictured at the New York Stock Exchange on December 12), dozens of people on social media pledged to visit the restaurant
Menomale Pizza (pictured) has been in business since 2012 and is on the east side of Washington D.C. It’s about one-and-a-half miles from the Maryland-D.C. border
‘Thanks for demonstrating civility. I appreciate your commitment to authentic Neapolitan pizza and Italian food! I will definitely visit your restaurant next time I’m in DC!’ one person wrote.
‘Brookland resident and longtime Menomàle enthusiast. See you soon for another great pizza!’ another wrote.
‘Next time I’m in town I’ll definitely be giving you my patronage! Merry Christmas and have a phenomenal New Year!!’ a third wrote.
Rusciano said she respected those who said they didn’t feel comfortable patronizing her business.
‘I respect that,’ Rusciano said. ‘We all vote with our wallets every day, but there was no reason to get personal, telling us to go ‘F’ ourselves, wishing for us to shut down.’
