Redwood City cafe owner pivots donation from Trump to New York mayor after trolling claim

Maria Rutenberg, proprietor of Chez Nous in Redwood City, California, marketed the sale of her café as a way to finance a third term for Donald Trump, a claim she later described as trolling liberal readers. In an August 18 Facebook update, she admitted the remark was meant to provoke and noted that "Trump Derangement Syndrome" had stripped her of humor. Upon realizing Trump will not seek another term, she announced she would donate the proceeds to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's campaign.

Chez Nous opened in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and was criticized for ignoring lockdown and mask rules, prompting a boycott from many local residents. The boycott was cited as a factor in her decision to sell. Rutenberg said the café welcomed patrons of all political persuasions, keeping its curtains closed to avoid fines.