Michigan taco truck owner faces threats, posts about her kids and 1-star reviews for catering GOP event: ‘Overwhelming’

The owner of a Michigan taco truck has found herself at the center of a political firestorm after catering a Republican event last week.Deanna Bueno, who runs Bueno Tacos in Highland, a suburb of Detroit, said her business has been flooded with threatening comments and one-star reviews, and that photos of her young children and staff have been posted online. As a result, she’s contacted law enforcement.“The harassment is getting overwhelming,” Bueno told The Independent. “I'm waking up to a nightmare every morning.”The backlash began after Bueno was asked by a friend to cater a July 27 fundraiser for Perry Johnson, a Republican candidate for governor. Bueno, who was born and raised in Highland, said her business does not take a political position, but that the event was prepaid and made good economic sense.“We decided to do it to make money to feed our families,” Bueno said. “I had no clue if the president was coming to town or not. I just don't follow any of that stuff. I have four kids.”Deanna Bueno, who runs Bueno Tacos in Highland, a suburb of Detroit, said her business has been flooded with threatening comments and one-star reviews after she catered a GOP event (Deanna Bueno)Johnson, a businessman and author, posted about the event July 26, describing it as “Perry Johnson’s Trump Tailgate” with “all you can eat tacos” from “the patriots at Bueno Tacos.”Separately, President Donald Trump visited a General Motors facility in Milford, Michigan, July 27 to tout the impact of his economic policies on the auto and manufacturing industries.Johnson has not been endorsed by President Donald Trump, whose campaign has called him a “Never Trumper” after he ran against the president for the GOP nomination in 2024. Instead, the president endorsed Rep. John James ahead of the August 4 primary.After Johnson’s post, Bueno said it “all went downhill,” with a wave of social media attacks denouncing the small business and accusing it of supporting a party that has carried out a sweeping immigration crackdown.“Bueno Taco is NO BUENO,” wrote one Facebook commenter. “I hope you drown catering to your own oppression like a good bootlicker.”“F*** them p****. May they burn in hell,” wrote another. One poster chimed in: “Hopefully they get the contaminated food.”Bueno also shared screenshots of negative Google reviews Bueno Tacos has received since the July 27 event. “Very bland,” wrote one. “Not authentic,” wrote another. She said the reviewers had not visited the business.More troubling, she said, were fake profiles created in her name as well as images of her young children and teenage employees posted online. She shared an image of one of the posts with The Independent. As a result, Bueno said she contacted the Department of Homeland Security, where her husband works.The July 27 'Trump Tailgate' event was hosted by Perry Johnson, a GOP candidate for governor. Pictured: Johnson speaks on stage at the Republican National Convention on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Getty Images)However Bueno added that “with the bad comes the good. I’m receiving a lot of support.” Many of the comments on the Bueno Tacos Facebook page reflect that.“So sorry this happened to you,” wrote one Michigan woman, who expressed interest in patronizing Bueno Tacos, while another added: “I’m ashamed of how our community is treating you.”A third wrote: “Boycotting this business is a personal decision just as catering a Trump rally was their personal decision. But threats, intimidation and involving children- NOT OK!!!”A similar situation unfolded earlier this month in Georgia.Toast on Lenox, a popular Black-owned Atlanta restaurant, drew boycott threats after Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson posted a photo with the owner, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The restaurant later released a statement saying Jackson was simply a customer, not a candidate it had endorsed.