Celebrity Chef Settles Lawsuit With Trump Organization

The Trump Organization and celebrity chef Jose Andres have settled their million-dollar lawsuit after two years, Politico reports. According to NPR, Andres had planned to open a restaurant in the new Trump International Hotel in DC—even going so far as planning a menu and talking design with Ivanka Trump—but pulled out of the agreement after President Trump said Mexican immigrants were rapists and criminals during the campaign. Andres accused Trump of "disparaging immigrants," the AP reports. He claimed Trump's comments had ensured the venture would fail by making it hard to find staff or diners for the Hispanic restaurant.

The Trump Organization sued Andres' Think Food Group for $14 million, and Andres counter-sued for $8 million. The details of the settlement are being kept private, so it's unclear if either side is getting money. Donald Trump Jr. described the settlement as a "win-win," and both sides released a joint statement saying they will "move forward as friends." The lawsuit between the Trump Organization and another celebrity chef who was supposed to open a restaurant at Trump International, Geoffrey Zakarian, is apparently still ongoing. Trump's new hotel is currently home to a steakhouse. (More Jose Andres stories.)