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What the... ? Over the weekend, the French eatery Le Bilboquet played host to Donald Trump Jr., Ted Cruz, and a ridiculous cake bearing the distorted likeness of President Obama. Trump Jr. posted photos of himself with Cruz and the cake on his Instagram account, appearing to mock the former president, and — as expected — is seeing a wave of backlash on social media.
The restaurant’s owner just responded to the deluge of commenters on Le Bilboquet’s Instagram account, saying, “Let me be clear, I share your indignation without any reservation.” He explains the duo were at his restaurant to celebrate a friend’s birthday, not for political reasons, and someone brought in the cake from an outside vendor to celebrate Trump Jr.’s upcoming birthday. He also says he wasn’t on the premises to intervene during the party.
On Le Bilboquet’s Instagram, he wrote in part:
“We at Le Bilboquet feel betrayed and sad. Restaurant business is about creating a hospitable environment for all, a non-partisan, non-politicized, nondiscriminatory and respectful environment. The fact that guests decided to use our restaurant as a platform to promote, disrespect, and spread hatred goes against everything we stand for. On a personal note, I am French and my wife is Mexican. We both believe in universal values of love, respect and tolerance.”
Whether the cake itself was a decorating fail from the yet-to-be-named vendor or intentionally crude, Trump Jr.’s contorted facial expression in his photo with the cake left no doubt that he was attempting to mock the 44th President.
Trump Jr.’s photo caption reads in part: “Some good friends decided that while my birthday is not for 2 weeks that they would get me an early 40th birthday cake. And what birthday is complete without an Obama cake? I figured it was so good that I would have to share it with Ted.”
Instagram commenters used the words “classless” and "an embarrassment to our country" to respond to Trump Jr.’s photo. One commenter started out a screed with the words: “First of all, that is either a cookie, or a cracker..... That’s not a cake.” (Media outlets are calling this thing a cookie too. Maybe it’s a cookie-cake?)
Another commenter asked: "Why are you guys so obsessed with Obama? It’s bordering on crazy at this point."
In his short time in the White House, Trump Jr. has continued his odd habit of making sweets politically controversial, like when he tried to turn Halloween candy into a lesson on socialism and before that, when he compared Skittles to refugees.
Update: The restaurant removed its Instagram but here is the text from the original caption:
“Dear Bilboquet Friends, This morning a lot of you have been shocked and appalled to hear that Donald Trump Jr. and Ted Cruz celebrated a birthday of a friend at Le Bilboquet with a cake with our former president Barack Obama's face on it. Let me be clear, I share your indignation without any reservation. Both Donald Trump Jr. and Ted Cruz were attending a birthday celebration of one of our regular patrons who rented out our venue for a private event. The party was not for either one of them nor was it any kind of partisan rally. Unfortunately, I was not working yesterday and could not intervene in the unfortunate circumstances that unfolded but I believe I owe you an explanation and an apology. Someone that attended the party brought in an outside cake for Donald Trump Jr.’s upcoming birthday and we are not sure who that was. Both Donald Trump Jr. and Ted Cruz took pictures with the cake and posted on social media outlets. We at Le Bilboquet feel betrayed and sad. Restaurant business is about creating a hospitable environment for all, a non-partisan, non-politicized, nondiscriminatory and respectful environment. The fact that guests decided to use our restaurant as a platform to promote, disrespect, and spread hatred goes against everything we stand for. On a personal note, I am French and my wife is Mexican. We both believe in universal values of love, respect and tolerance. Values that we have found within the Dallas community. Our friends and patrons represent a wide spectrum of American beliefs including: Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. What brings them together is the same belief that we can live together with love, respect and tolerance. I made America my home a long time ago because of these values that embody the real American dream. I am truly sorry that such distasteful events happened at our venue and that these circumstances brought me to write this statement today. It reminds us that a divide still exists and that we have to keep promoting our core values, so that events like these don't happen again. While I am disappointed and hurt, I still think it is possible. Stephan Courseau Owner Le Bilboquet”
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