&Pizza promises free pie every time a candidate says ‘Trump’ during debate

It’s not clear whether this promotion will be carried on to other GOP debates. |Images courtesy of &Pizza

Forget football as a marketing hook.

&Pizza is already wading into the crowded race for the Republican nomination for president, offering to reward viewers for watching the debate, which it calls “exhausting political theater,” scheduled for Wednesday evening.

GOP hopefuls Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, Doug Bergum and former Vice President Mike Pence were scheduled to face off at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on Wednesday, hosted by Fox Business, Univision and Rumble.

Missing from the room, of course, will be Big Gorilla Donald Trump, the former president, who for the second time did not feel the need to participate.

But &Pizza is making the audacious bet that Trump’s name will come up at some point during the event.

So, in the style of a drinking game, the Washington, D.C.-based chain announced it will give away free pizzas every time a candidate (but not a moderator) says “Trump,” whether in praise or criticism.

To win, however, viewers must text #trump to 200-03 within 60 seconds of the mention—so it has to be watched live. Those who make it are promised a coupon for a free pie, redeemable through Oct. 4.

&Pizza encourages viewers to text #debate to 200-03 before the debate starts to receive instruction. Only one coupon will be issued per customer, but no purchase is necessary.

“While Trump has decided to skip the customary presidential debate, he will still be a topic of discussion as all seven candidates pine for popularity with the American public,” said &Pizza CEO and co-founder, in a statement. “At &Pizza, our marketing follows the core principle that the best guidance is no guidance, and our brand works because it has a distinct personality inspired by do-goodery and internet culture. We predict that our team will be very busy making free pizzas from now through Oct. 4th.”

&Pizza has never been shy about taking on partisan issues. Earlier this year, when Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was making headlines for accepting gifts, the chain tweeted about its pies being on sale, “just like” Thomas.

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