BETTENDORF, IOWA: Former President Donald Trump made an impromptu campaign stop at Kathy's Treehouse Pub & Eatery in Bettendorf, Iowa, during his recent visit to the state.
While Trump's visit was met with enthusiasm from his supporters, the owner of the establishment, Brian Rashid, has a history that raises questions about the Trump campaign's decision to host the event at his establishment.
Donald Trump's campaign trail in Iowa
Trump, who is eyeing the Republican Party's 2024 presidential nomination, embarked on a multi-stop tour of Iowa, a crucial state for any aspiring presidential candidate.
During his visit to Kathy's Treehouse Pub & Eatery, Trump took a break from his political speeches to engage with his supporters in a more casual setting. He handed out pizza, signed autographs, and even orchestrated cheers from the crowd, who chanted "We want Trump."
Trump's visit to Iowa was the first of five planned stops in the state, as he seeks to secure his position within the Republican Party and lay the groundwork for a potential presidential run in 2024.
A video capturing a heartwarming and memorable moment quickly went viral. In the footage, Trump was seen actively participating in the event's festivities. He took it upon himself to pick up pizza boxes and personally hand them out to the eager crowd. With a smile, he passed a box to one supporter, saying, "Take it, man."
The atmosphere was electric, with another man in the crowd enthusiastically shouting, "Who wants pizza from Trump?" The packed audience responded with screams of delight. Trump continued to connect with the attendees on a personal level. He handed a pizza box to a woman in the crowd, affectionately saying, "Here you go, here darling."
One of the most touching moments captured in the video was when the former president signed the top of an enthusiastic waitress's uniform. As he inked her forearm with his signature, she stuck her tongue out in glee. "We're so honored to have you here, thank you so much. We love you. My dad's your number one fan and we all are," she was heard saying.
The event concluded with the crowd coming together to sing along to Lee Greenwood's iconic song, 'God Bless the USA.'
Brian Rashid's troubling past
Brian Rashid, the owner of the establishment, has a rather controversial background. Rashid's run-ins with the law have raised eyebrows and cast a shadow over Trump's event.
In April 2021, Brian Rashid faced allegations of intentionally setting off the alarms at his restaurant as a means to "test law enforcement." Subsequently, he was charged with giving a false report to a public entity. However, in a non-jury trial, Magistrate Eric Syverud delivered a not-guilty verdict, which raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rashid's legal troubles don't end with the alarm incident. He has faced multiple arrests for drunk driving, with his most recent arrest occurring in June 2019.
On this occasion, Rashid was pulled over by Bettendorf Police for a routine traffic stop. It was discovered that his license had been revoked, leading to charges of driving while license revoked, driving under suspension, and improper display of license plates, per WQAD.
The 2019 incident was just the latest in a series of DUI-related charges for Rashid, although Iowa law limited the charge to an OWI 1st offense due to the extended time frame between offenses.
"He had a history of driving under the influence but it was more than 15 years old," Scott County Attorney Mike Walton said at the time. "In Iowa, in order to enhance it to a second or third (offense of) operating under the influence, it has to be within 12 years. So he didn’t have any within 12 years so it had to be charged as an OWI 1st."
Court records reveal a troubling history, including four operating while under the influence charges in Iowa, one in Rock Island County, and one in Henry County. Additionally, Rashid has been charged three times with driving on a suspended license across Iowa and Illinois.
Controversial reputation among patrons
Employees and patrons of Kathy's Treehouse Pub & Eatery have also raised concerns about Brian Rashid's behavior and reputation. Some Reddit users who claim to have visited the establishment have painted a less-than-favorable picture of the owner.
"He’s just a mess, gets drunk at his bar every day, annoying guests. He’s extremely volatile to his staff. He’s banned from Uber and Lyft and a handful of bars for his drunken behavior. Dudes a major alcoholic and needs to find help or Jesus or something," one posted.
"Employees posted videos of him acting like an ass and being blackout drunk laying on the floor at the restaurant, and shared horror stories that got passed around on social media awhile ago," another added.
"Last time I saw, he was on his 13th DUI/DWI/OWI. Drinks too much at his bar. Harasses staff and patrons," someone else chimed in.
