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  "path": "/news/what-is-pentagon-pizza-index-february-2026",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-24T02:14:14.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.fox5dc.com",
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    "_United States and Iran continue to tighten._",
    "_Pentagon Pizza Report_",
    "_Pentagon Pizza Index_",
    "_told the Los Angeles Times_",
    "according to The Hill.",
    "_according to Newsweek_"
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  "textContent": "Pizza has become  _the_ fast food for parties and events, while also remaining a reliable option for late nights at work or for people in fast-paced industries with little time for breaks.\n\nThe people working at the Pentagon are no exception.\n\nPeople have theorized that pizza joints near the Pentagon get significantly busier before geopolitical conflicts, with instances of that supposedly being predictors that something significant is about to unfold on the world stage.\n\nIn June, when Israel attacked Iran, Google Maps activity from four pizza joints near the Pentagon surged, indicating military personnel were monitoring the unfolding event.\n\nThe Pentagon Pizza Index has resurfaced once more as tensions between the  _United States and Iran continue to tighten._\n\n## What is The Pentagon Pizza Index?\n\nThe  _Pentagon Pizza Report_and the  _Pentagon Pizza Index_ tracks the real-time foot traffic at pizza spots near the Pentagon, hinting at officials working late at the government building, which may suggest potential conflict.\n\nThese recent trackers piggyback off decades of observations made between the uptick in pizza orders at the Pentagon and incoming major conflicts.\n\nFor example, in 1991, an owner of 43 Domino’s pizza restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area  _told the Los Angeles Times_that while news media are in bed, pizza deliveries are out and about into the early hours of the morning.\n\nThat same owner also noted that on the evening of Aug. 1, 1990, the CIA ordered a record-breaking number of pizzas, just hours before Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait and started the Gulf War.\n\nWhen asked about the pizza index theory on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joked that the monitoring apps could be tracking his own pizza orders \"just to throw everybody off,\" according to The Hill. \n\n\"I’ve thought of just ordering lots of pizza on random nights just to throw everybody off,\" he said on Fox News. \"Some Friday night when you see a bunch of Domino's orders, it might just be me on an app, throwing the whole system off so we keep everybody off balance. We look at every indicator.\"\n\nWhen reached for comment on the Pentagon Pizza Report’s June 12 post and the pizza theory, the Department of Defense (DOD) told FOX Business it had \"nothing to offer\" on the matter.\n\nNewsweek reported in June a spokesperson for the Pentagon told it that the Pentagon Pizza Report’s posts did \"not align with the events.\"\n\nThe Pentagon is also apparently not lacking in pizza offerings inside its building, with the spokesperson telling the outlet there \"are many pizza options available inside the Pentagon, also sushi, sandwiches, donuts, coffee, etc.,\"  _according to Newsweek_.\n\n## US and Iran\n\nThe United States has ordered nonessential diplomats and their family members at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to leave Lebanon, the State Department said Monday.\n\nThe department said in an updated travel alert for U.S. citizens in Lebanon that it \"ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of government personnel due to the security situation in Beirut.\"\n\nTensions have escalated between the U.S. and Iran as President Donald Trump has built up the largest military presence in the Middle East in decades and repeatedly threatened action if Tehran does not negotiate a deal to constrain its nuclear program.\n\nAsked Friday whether the U.S. could take limited military action as the countries negotiate, Trump said, \"I guess I can say I am considering that.\" He also told reporters later that Iran \"better negotiate a fair deal.\"",
  "title": "What is the Pentagon Pizza Index?"
}