Why is the 'Pentagon Pizza Index' trending on social media
As far as world indicators go, you might wonder how the Pentagon—America's most secure military headquarters—has anything to do with pizza. But what if ordering a pizza near the Pentagon was actually a warning sign of geopolitical turmoil?
That's the idea behind the so-called Pentagon Pizza Index, sometimes also called the Pentagon Pizza Meter.
It's a strange, persistent theory that claims a surge in pizza orders around the Pentagon or Department of Defense signals an imminent global crisis. And after going viral last year, it's making a comeback, thanks to growing tensions in the Middle East.
Iran-Israel tensions
The renewed focus on the Pentagon Pizza Index coincides with rising hostilities in the Middle East. While U.S. officials have denied direct involvement in the Iran-Israel war, online users believe America's defense machinery may be quietly bracing behind the scenes.
A spike in delivery activity near major military and intelligence centers was first flagged late on June 12 by a user who posted: 'The Pentagon Pizza Index is hiking.' A Domino's outlet near the Department of Defense also appeared particularly busy, and a dedicated X page tracking delivery patterns confirmed the uptick on June 13.
What is the Pentagon Pizza Index?
The so-called Pentagon Pizza Index refers to a long-standing, half-serious theory that a sudden surge in pizza deliveries around U.S.
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defense buildings indicates that officials are too busy to leave their posts—often due to national security emergencies or military operations.
The theory was popularized by food culture site The Takeout, but its roots go back to the Cold War. Reportedly, Soviet intelligence once tracked food deliveries in Washington to assess American crisis readiness. The thinking: more pizza = more panic.
In the social media era, the theory has become a kind of crowdsourced warning system, with online users scanning delivery maps for unusual patterns.
Recent surges near Papa John's and Domino's outlets in D.C. have led some to believe that the Pentagon is in active response mode.
Historical surges that fuel the theory
This isn't the first time pizza deliveries have mysteriously spiked near major events. Believers often point to past incidents that seem to support the pattern:
August 1, 1990: Frank Meeks, a Domino's franchisee in Washington, noticed a wave of deliveries to CIA buildings. The next day, Iraq invaded Kuwait—triggering the Gulf War.
December 1998: A similar increase reportedly occurred during the impeachment hearings of President Bill Clinton.
April 13, 2024: On the eve of Iran launching drones into Israeli territory, netizens again flagged pizza order surges from areas near the Pentagon and White House. Screenshots from food apps went viral within hours.
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