St. James Pizzeria Gets Shout-Out From President Trump

ST. JAMES, NY — Caligiuri's Patio Pizza received a shout-out from President Donald Trump Thursday morning after the restaurant was criticized for hanging a Trump flag inside.

"Support Patio Pizza and its wonderful owner, Guy Caligiuri, in St. James, Long Island (N.Y.). Great Pizza!!!," Trump tweeted.

The president's support comes after a woman made a post in a Facebook group for Smithtown mothers criticizing Caligiuri for hanging a Trump flag in the back of his shop, according to another Facebook post.

"A Smithtown mom was offended by his trump flag in the back and tried to ruin him on Fb by putting it on the Smithtown Supportive Moms," Debbie Az wrote on Facebook. "We should all patronize this restaurant!!!"

A woman who went to the restaurant Friday night noticed Caligiuri's flag and "took offense" after an employee explained it belonged to the owner, Caligiuri said on Varney & Co., a show hosted by Stuart Varney on the Fox Business Network. The woman said she was the administrator of a Facebook page and would post about the Trump flag with the intent of putting the pizzeria out of business, Caligiuri said.

He said Long Islanders have since flocked to Patio Pizza to show support for the business and Trump.

"I think he's a fantastic president, I think he's done a great job, and I think it's my right to support him and to show my support of him," Caligiuri told Varney.

Caligiuri could not be reached for comment.

Roger's Frigate, an ice cream shop in Port Jefferson, found itself at the center of a similar political controversy in May when it hung a banner criticizing Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The "Impeach Cuomo" sign was spray-painted by a woman, police said.