Screenshot via X/@MargoMartin47
Audio By Carbonatix
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Alexis Mogollon as the owner of El Arepazo. The restaurant is owned by Max Alvarez. The article has been updated.
President Donald Trump made a brief stop at El Arepazo in Doral Monday afternoon, stopping by the Venezuelan favorite just months after criticism of the administration’s immigration policies circulated publicly from a person previously associated with the business.
The visit lasted only four minutes, according to the Miami Herald, but brought the President face to face with a community where support for his foreign policy often clashes with the local impact of his domestic agenda.
The stop followed the “Shield of the Americas” summit at the Trump National Doral, where the President met with Latin American leaders to coordinate the region’s security. During a GOP retreat earlier in the day, Trump addressed the ongoing military conflict with Iran, claiming that joint U.S. and Israeli efforts had recently prevented a series of planned strikes against the Middle East and the United States.
Screenshot via X/@MargoMartin47
Clarification on Ownership
El Arepazo is owned by Max Alvarez, who appears in the image shaking hands with President Trump during the visit.
Previous reporting and public commentary surrounding the restaurant referenced Alexis Mogollon, who had previously been associated with a business entity tied to the restaurant. Public records show that Mogollon was listed as a member of El Arepazo Grill LLC, which became inactive in 2016.
Property records for the address where the restaurant operates list Sunshine Gasoline Distributors, Inc. as the owner.
The Scene at the Restaurant
Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was carefully managed by the county Republican Party. According to reports from the Miami Herald, the guest list was dominated by GOP officials and invited supporters, including Doral Mayor Christi Fraga and councilmembers Rafael Pineyro and Nicole Reinoso.
Outside, the reception was more chaotic. While a crowd gathered to cheer the President’s arrival, several Venezuelan business professionals and community members with invitations were reportedly denied entry and kept in the parking lot. One frustrated attendee noted that while the event used a Venezuelan landmark as a backdrop, many members of the local professional community were left standing outside.
Economic and Policy Concerns
The visit comes as the administration faces declining approval ratings on key issues such as government leadership and the economy. Recent surges in oil prices, which topped $100 a barrel this week for the first time since 2022, added to the tension of the three-day GOP retreat as leaders gathered to discuss strategy ahead of the midterm elections.
For many in Doral, El Arepazo is more than a restaurant; it is a gathering place for the Venezuelan community. While many patrons celebrated there during the recent removal of the Maduro regime, the community remains divided over the administration’s handling of Temporary Protected Status and the long-term future of Venezuelan migrants living in South Florida.
El Arepazo. 10191 NW 58th St., Doral; elarepazodoral.com.
