Slap's BBQ faces boycott calls after Trump White House visit. Here's what to know

An award-winning Kansas City, Kansas, barbecue restaurant is drawing mixed reactions online after its founders appeared with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. Some longtime fans are calling for a boycott, while others say the visit is a publicity win.

FULL STORY: KC-area barbecue fans debate boycott of Slap’s BBQ after viral meeting with Trump

Here are key takeaways:

- A viral video shows Trump standing in front of a Slap’s BBQ spread at the White House, chatting with founders Mike and Joe Pearce about when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will return from a knee injury.

- The Pearce brothers were in Washington for a Small Business Summit where Trump delivered remarks. They did not respond to requests for comment.

- An Instagram post on the KC Discovery page claiming “dozens” of KC-area residents were boycotting Slap’s generated more than 3,000 likes and 900 comments.

- Kansas City resident Tom Ferlo, a longtime fan and Uber driver who had recommended Slap’s to riders, said on Facebook he was “deeply disappointed” and claimed the restaurant blocked him for criticizing the visit.

- Defenders called the White House invitation an honor and great publicity, with one user pledging to drive 55 minutes to spend $100 at Slap’s. Critics said spending choices should reflect personal values.

- The debate echoes broader Trump-related boycotts targeting Tesla, Target and Home Depot over issues ranging from Elon Musk’s government role to DEI policies and ICE operations.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 5:32 PM.