In Little Rock, Arkansas, on March 13, 2026, Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders visited The Croissanterie restaurant for lunch with two other women and her security detail. After about an hour and fifteen minutes in the restaurant, the owner's decision to request her departure stemmed from employees expressing discomfort with her presence. Despite the governor's group already having paid their bill and tipped the staff, the owner approached a State Police officer assigned to Sanders and stated that the staff felt threatened. The request to leave was based on the need to support both employees and customers who were reportedly uncomfortable with the situation. The Croissanterie’s owners acknowledged the difficult position they found themselves in, arguing that allowing Sanders to stay could be interpreted as a lack of support for their workforce, while asking her to leave could be seen as denying service based on differing political beliefs. After reviewing the incident, the restaurant confirmed that they communicated with the governor's security detail twice before making the decision for her to leave. It was indicated that an individual in the restaurant made an inappropriate gesture towards Sanders as she exited, but they clarified this was not an action of the staff. Sanders later issued a statement claiming that her presence made employees feel threatened, echoing sentiments that have emerged in response to public dining incidents involving political figures. She expressed disappointment in the lack of hospitality, reflecting on the expectation of warmth that Arkansas residents typically demonstrate. Past instances of similar political confrontations in eateries highlight the growing trend of public figures receiving backlash during casual outings. This incident is part of a broader pattern where politicians face hostility in public venues over their political positions. The owners of The Croissanterie emphasized their decision was ultimately aimed at protecting their employees’ feelings and experiences rather than any hatred or political stance against Sanders herself. Their statement emphasized a principle of prioritizing their community’s comfort over possible controversies that might arise from serving a prominent political figure.