ISLAMABAD: A surge in late-night pizza orders near the Pentagon building in Virginia has reignited an unusual internet theory following recent developments in Venezuela that delivery spikes signal imminent US military operations.

The phenomenon, dubbed the "Pentagon Pizza Theory," holds that when defense officials pull all-nighters during crises, increased takeout orders can serve as an early warning sign of government activity.

The theory went viral after the January 3 US military operation in Venezuela, with social media trackers reporting activity jumps of up to 1,250 percent. Social media monitors reportedly noted a 700% increase at Pizzato Pizza, a late-night Arlington outlet, starting around 2 am, roughly an hour before explosions were reported in Caracas. President Trump later confirmed strikes that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Dedicated accounts such as @PenPizzaReport have emerged to monitor foot traffic and delivery patterns, with 333,000 followers treating the data as a form of crowdsourced intelligence. The account posts screenshots of Google Maps "busy" indicators at pizza outlets within a mile or two of the Pentagon, often accompanied by speculation about what might be brewing.

A website called the Pentagon Pizza Index now offers a real-time dashboard monitoring pizza shop popularity around the Pentagon, visualizing the data and correlating it with geopolitical events.

The site describes itself as tracking pizza activity as an unconventional intelligence tool for monitoring geopolitical tensions, though its terms of service acknowledge it is primarily a satirical concept for entertainment purposes.

Pizza surge fuels speculation on Iran protests

Similar patterns have been documented more recently. Last June, observers noted heightened activity at a Papa Johns near the Pentagon about an hour before Trump announced strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

On January 7, the Pentagon Pizza Report account noted elevated activity at Arlington eateries like Nighthawk Pizza and Domino's. Online speculations point to the recent protests in Iran.

Origins

The theory, which dates back decades, has resurfaced repeatedly during moments of global tension.

The figures originate from Frank Meeks, who owned 60 Domino’s franchises in the Washington, DC area. He first shared these observations with the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune in early 1991, recalling that the CIA ordered a record 21 pizzas on August 1 that year, the night before Iraq invaded Kuwait, triggering the Gulf War.

No truth to the theory

The Pentagon has dismissed the theory. In a 2025 statement to Newsweek, the Department of Defense said the building has numerous internal food vendors available for late-night workers, suggesting external delivery spikes do not necessarily indicate crisis mode.

Pentagon Pizza Report account has also cautioned followers against jumping to conclusions, emphasizing in a January 5 post that the data is "merely an indicator" and criticizing those who immediately predict "WW3."

The Pentagon has dismissed the theory. In a 2025 statement to Newsweek, the Department of Defense said the building has numerous internal food vendors available for late-night workers, suggesting external delivery spikes do not necessarily indicate crisis mode.

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Pentagon pizza theory: late-night orders spark online war speculation