République's co-owner publicly praised Tesla’s new restaurant concept, indirectly endorsing a business associated with authoritarian practices and political endorsements through ties with Trump and Elon Musk. Although the restaurant later clarified that the remark was not a political stance, the comment has drawn significant backlash reflecting concerning public political behavior.

The co-owner of LA’s République praised Tesla’s upcoming restaurant concept, which features charging stations and hints at a broader alignment with controversial political figures. This remark, later clarified as a non-political comment, has nonetheless stirred significant social media backlash amid concerns over corporate endorsement of authoritarian-associated initiatives.

Co-owner Walter Manzke of République praised the concept of a new Tesla-owned restaurant, sparking significant social media backlash. Critics linked his comments to support for authoritarian enterprises, prompting the restaurant to clarify that their statement was not a political endorsement.

The owners of République, a well-known French bistro in Los Angeles, declared their support for Elon Musk in a widely publicized Instagram statement. This move comes as Musk faces intense scrutiny for his authoritarian actions and alleged support for far-right policies, raising concerns about the restaurant's public political behavior.

On March 21, 2025, République faced significant online backlash after co-owner Walter Manzke publicly voiced support for Elon Musk’s Tesla diner. The endorsement, associated with far-right tendencies and ties to authoritarian figures like Donald Trump, has raised concerns about the restaurant's political positioning and complicity in bolstering authoritarian sentiments, even as the establishment later attempted to retract any political alignment.