A Virginia restaurant’s decision to not serve White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders reverberated throughout Washington on Monday, as President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE seized on the story and Democratic leaders sought to distance their party from a liberal firebrand’s decision to cheer it on.

Trump focused on the brewing controversy as a way to shift the focus from his administration’s “zero tolerance” border policy and onto the actions of his fiercest critics.

The president tweeted his disgust on Monday morning with The Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Va., and then followed his missive up with an attack on Rep. Maxine Waters Maxine Moore WatersPowell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs Pelosi: House will stay in session until agreement is reached on coronavirus relief Omar invokes father's death from coronavirus in reaction to Woodward book MORE (D-Calif.), who over the weekend urged other opponents of the president to confront administration officials in public.

ADVERTISEMENT

In doing so, Trump used the kind of insults that have a part of his political brand, even though they added to a tone of incivility that many saw the Virginia restaurant owner as worsening with her actions toward Sanders.

“The Red Hen Restaurant should focus more on cleaning its filthy canopies, doors and windows (badly needs a paint job) rather than refusing to serve a fine person like Sarah Huckabee Sanders,” Trump wrote in the first tweet.

Later, the president took aim at Waters, calling her “low IQ,” and insinuating she might be subject to harassment as a result of her own comments.

“(Waters) has just called for harm to supporters, of which there are many, of the Make America Great Again movement,” Trump tweeted. “Be careful what you wish for Max!”

Sanders also leaned into the controversy at the outset of Monday’s press briefing, underscoring the administration’s desire to score points on Democrats over the issue.

“We are allowed to disagree, but we should be able to do so freely and without fear of harm,” she said. “And this goes for all people regardless of politics.”

“Healthy debate on ideas and political philosophy is important, but the calls for harassment and push for any Trump supporter to avoid the public is unacceptable,” she added.

Those remarks were a nod toward Waters, who in a weekend speech had urged Trump critics to confront officials in restaurants, gas stations or shopping centers.

“For these members of his Cabinet who remain and try to defend him they're not going to be able to go to a restaurant, they're not going to be able to stop at a gas station, they're not going to be able to shop at a department store, the people are going to turn on them, they're going to protest, they're going to absolutely harass them until they decide that they're going to tell the president ‘No, I can't hang with you, this is wrong, this is unconscionable and we can't keep doing this to children,’ ” she said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (D-N.Y.) gently pushed back at Waters, seemingly recognizing that the remarks could backfire.

Schumer in a speech on the Senate floor criticized the harassment of political opponents as “not American.”

He said he understands Democrats’ frustrations given Trump’s tone and insults.

“But the president’s tactics and behavior should never be emulated,” Schumer said. “It should be repudiated by organized, well-informed and passionate advocacy.”

Pelosi criticized Trump for a “daily lack of civility,” but labeled tit-for-tat responses “unacceptable" and called for national unity.

Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.), a prospective 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, welcomed respectful protests of Trump administration officials, but appeared to reject Waters’s rhetoric.

“We’ve got to get to a point in our country where we can talk to each other, where we are all seeking a more beloved community,” he said on MSNBC. “And some of those tactics that people are advocating for, to me, don’t reflect that spirit.”

Republicans clearly saw the restaurant dispute and the Waters remarks as a political lifeline after a brutal week dominated by global criticism of Trump’s zero tolerance policy, which had resulted in children being separated from their parents. Trump retreated on that policy by issuing an executive order last week ending it.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said his daughter was the victim of “bigotry.” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called Sanders’s removal “hypocrisy” from liberals. Other conservatives called for a boycott of The Red Hen.

Trump retweeted Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Democrats step up hardball tactics as Supreme Court fight heats up Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP MORE (R-Fla.), who wrote that Trump's opponents “help him with their irrational hostility towards those who work for him.”

Democrats, for their part, often seemed frustrated.

Many believe that Trump and his allies invite rude behavior with their own actions, and that the president in particular has coarsened public discourse while contributing to political polarization.

At the same time, there are growing worries that the anger of the so-called resistance to Trump could end up hurting Democrats.

It’s a subject that has been heavily discussed following Robert De Niro’s “F--- Trump” fusillade from the stage of the Tony Awards, and comedian Samantha Bee’s use of the “c-word” to describe Ivanka Trump Ivana (Ivanka) Marie TrumpSpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report Trump, Biden vie for Minnesota Trump luxury properties have charged US government .1M since inauguration: report MORE.

Democrats are depending on their base to come out this fall to win back the House majority, but they also are worried about firing up the president’s base.

Former Rep. Steve Israel Steven (Steve) J. IsraelThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump, Biden intensify battleground focus as 2020 race tightens Biden allies express confidence as convention begins The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden closes in on vice presidential pick MORE (D-N.Y.), who once led the House Democratic campaign arm, said the “better alternative” for The Red Hen owner “would have been to let Sanders know the owner was donating the price of her meal to elect Democrats who would stop Trump and thank Sanders for her generosity to the resistance.”

While Israel acknowledged that on a moral level he understands why Sanders was asked to leave he said he worries that “these tactics further divide the country.”

Amie Parnes contributed.