Videos on social media show the moment when protesters began booing US President Donald Trump in a Washington restaurant, shouting "Freedom for Washington! Freedom for Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!"

The 79-year-old Republican approached the shouting protesters in the restaurant, stopped a few meters away from them for a few seconds, nodded and smiled calmly, without responding.

Seconds later, Trump signaled to clear the area, saying, "Come on, let's go."

Secret Service agents escorted the protesters, who were waving Palestinian flags, away, AFP reported.

Dining in a public place is a rare event for Trump, but press secretary Carolyn Leavitt confirmed that "he and his team enjoyed crab, shrimp, salad, steak, and dessert" for dinner at a restaurant a few blocks from the White House.

Trump was joined by Vice President Jay Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hagset, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Leavitt, and others.

A video shows Vance shaking hands with the guests and wishing them bon appétit.

Before dinner, Trump told the press that "restaurants in the capital are thriving," attributing the credit for this to his repressive measures with the help of National Guard soldiers.

Reporters said he was greeted with loud cheers from people across the street and a few boos. | BGNES