Five things we learned watching 'Fox & Friends' from Metro Diner in Ponte Vedra Beach

Brian Kilmeade broadcast part of Tuesday morning's episode of "Fox & Friends" from the Metro Diner in Ponte Vedra Beach, which he called "one of the most patriotic places in the country."

Kilmeade was at the diner from 6-9 a.m., sharing hosting duties with in-studio anchors and talking with diners, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters and Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Johnny Van Zant, who lives in Clay County.

Here are five things we learned from watching the show:

Good news and bad news for Metro Diner

The diner was packed for the duration of the show, with a line of people outside. "You've got to get here early," Kilmeade said. "Even when we're not on TV."

But he pointed out that is was likely a mixed blessing for the diner staff because hardly anyone left during the broadcast. He encouraged the diners to leave big tips.

"This is like the worst nightmare for a restaurant," he said. "They come in at 6 and sit for three-and-a-half hours."

Live from Ponte Vedra Beach:'Fox & Friends' is broadcasting from Metro Diner Tuesday with a special guest. What we know.

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Preaching to the choir

The "Fox & Friends" morning show makes no excuses for its conservative leanings and drew a supportive crowd to the diner. The crowd chanted "USA! USA!," raised hands to show agreement when Kilmeade asked if thousands of people moving to the state is a good thing and didn't raise hands when asked if the economy is doing well. Kilmeade described the diners as "not so much Republican or Democrat, they're mostly pro-America."

Shaky support for Ron DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who used to live within walking distance of the diner and represented the area in Congress before being elected governor, appeared via video during the segment, talking about his move to strip power from Disney and pushing his new book, "The Courage to Be Free." But during an earlier segment of the show, Kilmeade asked random diners who they support in the 2024 presidential election. He heard from a half-dozen Donald Trump supporters before finding a woman wearing a DeSantis T-shirt, and even she waffled on her choice between Trump and DeSantis. "One or the other," she said.

Patriotic fans

Van Zant, who has been Lynyrd Skynyrd's lead singer since 1987, said the band has some of the most patriotic fans in the business. He said he's known that for years, but it really became clear when the band released the song "Red, White and Blue" in 2003. "That's when we really, really knew our crowd are true Americans," Van Zant said. The song is still part of the band's setlist as it sets out on a 50th anniversary tour. "The fans are what really keeps this band going."

He and his brother, former .38 Special singer Donnie Van Zant, wrote a song in support of DeSantis' election campaign last year. He said he was approached by someone on the governor's staff and asked to help with the campaign. He's taken some flak from fans who questioned the decision, he said, but he's OK with it.

"I don't care," Van Zant said. "We live in America, where we can believe what we want, left or right."

Downtown development

Kilmeade, who owns a home in Ponte Vedra Beach, ruffled some feathers last year when he said Jacksonville is "a mess" with great potential. He didn't address that directly on Tuesday, but asked several of his guests about the city. Mark Kaye, a radio host on WOKV, cited big developments slated for downtown and said the city could be the next Baltimore, Nashville or Austin. Van Zant, a Jacksonville native, called it a beautiful city but said there's room for improvement. "We've got a long ways to go," he said. "Especially downtown."

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 'Fox & Friends' at Metro Diner in Ponte Vedra: 5 things to know