Eric Trump, in an interview with the right-wing website Breitbart News, described being spit on as “purely a disgusting act by somebody who clearly has emotional problems” and appeared to tie it to Democratic opposition to his father’s presidency. “For a party that preaches tolerance, this once again demonstrates they have very little civility,” he said. “When somebody is sick enough to resort to spitting on someone, it just emphasizes a sickness and desperation and the fact that we’re winning.”

Officials with The Aviary released an unsigned statement Wednesday describing “an unfortunate incident” that “occurred between an employee at The Aviary and Eric Trump.” That employee has been placed on leave, the statement said, adding that restaurant officials did not witness the reported spitting.

“What is certain is this: no customer should ever be spit upon,” the bar’s statement said.

It went on to criticize people who had made comments online “calling for the demise of our business,” as well as those “who are praising this as an act of civil disobedience.”

“We hope this incident can, at least, serve to illuminate the current absurdity of the discourse in our politics,” The Aviary’s statement said.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Chicago police, said city officers had been “on scene and assisting the United States Secret Service with a law enforcement matter” Tuesday night. He declined to comment further, and the Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for more information.