Full Breakdown
Michigan Taco Truck Owner Harassed After Catering GOP Fundraiser
7/31/2026, 12:37:34 AM
The July 27 Fundraiser and Resulting Harassment
Deanna Bueno, proprietor of Bueno Tacos in Highland, a Detroit suburb, was asked by a friend to provide tacos for a July 27 fundraiser for Perry Johnson, a Republican candidate for Michigan governor. The event, promoted on social media as “Perry Johnson’s Trump Tailgate,” drew a wave of online attacks on Bueno’s business. She reported a surge of threatening comments, one-star Google reviews, and the creation of fake profiles that posted images of her children and teenage staff. She has contacted law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, where her husband is employed.
Political and Local Context
Johnson’s campaign posted about the taco-tailgate on July 26, emphasizing the free-food aspect for “patriots.” The same day, President Donald Trump visited a General Motors plant in Milford, Michigan, to tout his economic policies, though he has not endorsed Johnson. A comparable incident occurred earlier in Georgia, where the Black-owned restaurant Toast on Lenox faced boycott threats after Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson posted a photo with its owner.
Official Statements and Responses
The negative reviews she shared were from individuals who had not visited the restaurant. In contrast, several community members expressed support, urging others not to boycott the business for a personal decision.
Public Reaction and Community Support
Social-media commenters denounced Bueno’s perceived political alignment, using hostile language and wishing harm on the business. Conversely, local supporters posted messages of solidarity, condemning the threats and intimidation directed at a family-run eatery.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We decided to do it to make money to feed our families,” — Deanna Bueno, who runs Bueno Tacos in Highland, a suburb of Detroit
- “I’m ashamed of how our community is treating you.” — Bueno Tacos
