Five years ago, Ryan Anderson bought a Donald Trump pinata “as a joke,” thinking he would smash it after Hillary Clinton won the election.
But she did not, so Anderson set the effigy aside, waiting for the right time to annihilate it. And now, years later, that wait is over.
To celebrate the end of Trump’s impeachment trial, Anderson will finally tear into the paper mache Donald on Thursday at his Mexican restaurant on Koh Phangan, an event that the American owner Anderson said he has been waiting for this opportunity since 2016.
“I’m really glad that he’s gone,” said Anderson. “As the election loomed, I knew the pinata and the world could not survive another four years of Trump, so I was confident this year we would get swinging.”
The 44-year-old Chicago native, who came to Thailand about 20 years ago and opened Ando Loco in 2005, was especially angry about Trump’s racism.
“Trump was so disrespectful to people of Mexican heritage that I felt a need to stand up for what’s right,” he said.
Anderson purchased the 3-foot pinata from a website when Trump was running for president and hoped to smash it when he lost. But, in his own words, “to the shock of the world,” Trump won, and thus the beatdown was postponed indefinitely. Anderson promised his customers that he would hold a pinata-pummeling party when Trump was defeated.
“We hope people understand that although the act of bashing the pinata is comical, the meaning behind it is not,” Anderson said. “Letting out our frustrations of Trump’s demeaning policies toward people and the environment will be a healthy release.”
The party will be held from 8pm on Thursday at Ando Loco on Taladkao Road on Koh Phangan.
The kitchen will serve a range of traditional dishes including tacos and quesadillas, as well as vegan offerings such as jackfruit enchiladas with cashew nut-made sour cream.
Booze is allowed on the island so long as venues keep the crowd down to 50 or fewer, so some fun themed cocktails will include a Stormy Daniels Margarita (made with Jack Daniels), an Impeach Mojito and, its stronger version, the Double Impeach Mojito.
The winner of the Trump pinata contest will be awarded THB3,000. Local artists will perform Trump favorites such as “YMCA,” “Gloria” and “My Way.”
Anderson himself will cosplay as Trump with red necktie, white shirt and blue suit. “I’ll also wear a wig and paint my face orange,” he said.
Proceeds from the food and drinks will go to U.S. civil rights nonprofit the American Civil Liberties Union.
