Trump Restaurants Failed Food Inspections at His Chicago Hotel - People.com

Trump Restaurants Failed Food Inspections at His Chicago Hotel: Flies, Wastewater and Debris Were Found Inspectors cited “small flies” in the kitchens, wastewater draining onto the floor and perishable foods held at “inadequate temperatures” according to records obtained by PEOPLE By Chiara Kim Chiara Kim Chiara Kim is an Editorial Assistant, Food at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2026. Her work has previously appeared in The Daily Northwestern and PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 13, 2026 02:05PM EDT 34 Comments Credit : DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty; Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty NEED TO KNOW A Trump hotel in Chicago failed food inspections on Dec. 17, 2025The inspections uncovered flies, an inadequate dishwasher and wastewater draining onto the floor, according to records obtained by PEOPLEAccording to the food inspection data, the restaurants passed inspections on Dec. 23 A Trump hotel's restaurants failed recent inspections, according to records obtained by PEOPLE. Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago failed food inspections in its Terrace 16 restaurant and main kitchen and room service areas during a food inspection by the Chicago Department of Public Health on Dec. 17, 2025, the records show. Per the records, the inspection found “more than 10 small flies throughout [the] bar area and three small flies in [the] dish area,” per the inspection records. It also observed that the dish machine was “not properly sanitizing,” and when the wastewater from a sink in the prep area drained, it flooded the floor. The records also detailed that one kitchen held perishable foods at an inadequate temperature range of 46 to 53 degrees, which was too high. The Terrace 16 restaurant at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. Alamy In the main kitchen, the inspector discovered that the shellstock — raw shellfish kept inside their shells — was not labeled with a sold or serve-by date, according to the document. Other violations included a cracked ice machine lid, debris built up in a prep cooler and debris built-up on the floor under a sink. According to the records, when the inspector returned on Dec. 23, 2025, the restaurants passed the inspection. However, the inspection found that the ice machine lid was still cracked. The restaurants in Trump’s Chicago hotel have failed inspections several times since it opened in 2009, according to the inspection records. Most recently prior to the December incident, on Jan. 9, 2024, the records said the chef was reusing oyster shells as dishes for guests after placing them in the dishwasher. Related Stories Donald Trump's McDonald's Diet Hasn't Changed, He Says, amid Questions About His Health. Here's What He Eats RFK Jr. Unveils ‘Upside Down’ Food Pyramid Prioritizing Red Meat and Full-Fat Dairy, Declares 'War on Sugar' Per the records, inspections uncovered “over 30 small black flying insects” in the bar and kitchen. The records also show that the inspection found “hand soap missing” in the bar area of the Terrace 16 restaurant, and a sink didn’t have disposable paper towels. Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. Close Leave a Comment Read more: Lifestyle Food Restaurants