KC-area barbecue fans debate boycott of Slap’s BBQ after viral meeting with Trump
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Slap’s BBQ founders Mike and Joe Pearce spoke with President Trump at a White House event.
- An Instagram post about a Slap’s boycott generated thousands of likes and 900+ comments.
- Some customers said they would no longer patronize Slap’s after the viral exchange.
The owners of an award-winning Kansas City, Kansas, barbecue joint are getting mixed reviews online over a viral moment they shared with President Donald Trump on Monday.
In a video shot at the White House, Trump can be seen standing in front of a spread from Slap’s BBQ and conversing with founders Mike and Joe Pearce, asking the brothers when they think Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will return from a knee injury.
In the days since White House press assistant Margo Martin shared the video on X, a vocal contingent of barbecue fans has sounded off online, expressing frustration with the brothers over the friendly exchange.
“Deeply disappointed in Slap’s BBQ,” Tom Ferlo of Kansas City posted to Facebook. “They for years have been my favorite in town. It was the first food I ate after my wedding, and recently I’ve told multiple people a day that it’s the best in town.”
Ferlo, an Uber driver who told The Star in a Facebook message that he had often recommended Slap’s to his riders, went on to claim that the restaurant’s Facebook page blocked him for expressing his anger about their appearance with Trump.
“Nothing tastes as good as integrity — you can tell because they spent all day deleting critical comments and Google reviews,” Ferlo said.
Another user responded: “Slap’s was one of our favorites too... WAS…”
The Pearces did not respond to text messages and a phone call requesting an interview for this story on Friday. They were in D.C. on Monday for a Small Business Summit where Trump delivered remarks.
Online debate over Trump exchange
An Instagram post on the KC Discovery page that featured a screenshot of the encounter and claimed that “dozens” of KC-area residents were boycotting Slap’s BBQ generated more than 3,000 likes and 900 comments.
Under the post, users debated whether showing up for the White House event was a smart business move for the brothers, who gained fame as stars of TLC’s “BBQ Pitmasters” and still compete in barbecue competitions 30 weeks out of the year.
“It’s an honor to get invited to the White House, regardless of who’s President,” one user said. “No one in their right mind would decline that invitation, especially as a business. That’s amazing publicity!”
Some users jokingly endorsed the boycott.
“Now the line for food will be shorter and full of hardworking, smart people,” one person said.
“I’ll eat there twice as much now,” someone else posted. “The poor people aren’t boycotting, they just don’t have enough money to buy premium bbq.”
Others saw it differently.
“Freedom of choice and freedom of speech do not equal freedom of consequences, plain and simple.... People can spend their money however they see fit as it aligns with their values,” one user said.
Some users said they don’t plan to patronize Slap’s moving forward.
“My daughter will be disappointed that we can no longer get their bbq sauce. It was a favorite in our house,” one person posted.
Others used the opportunity to compare Slap’s unfavorably to other KC-area barbecue restaurants.
“Joes bbq is better anyways…,” one user said.
Another user’s review was more personal, dismissing Slap’s wares as “trifling.”
“I was so disappointed after spending money on this unseasoned flavorless food,” they posted in all caps.
Another Instagram user on the same comment thread speculated that the Trump cameo would ultimately boost the KCK barbecue joint’s popularity, despite its location in left-leaning Wyandotte County.
“Driving 55 minutes at my earliest convenience to spend $100+ at Slap’s now,” they posted. “As if I needed another reason to visit and patronize this awesome BBQ.”
Elsewhere around the country, organized protests over Trump-aligned policies have resulted in boycotts of major corporations, including Tesla, Target and Home Depot.
Tesla stock suffered as a result of billionaire Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn approach to government efficiency as a Trump advisor. Target faced backlash over the elimination of its DEI programs, and Home Depot has been criticized for allowing ICE to use its parking lots during operations.
