Donald Trump supporter thrown out of St Louis soccer stadium mid-game after refusing to remove MAGA hat

Time of India

6 days ago

Image via X/ The Drew Lane Show
In a moment that felt more political protest than sporting event, Michael Weitzel—an ardent season-ticket holder at St. Louis City SC—found himself escorted out of Energizer Park during a July 26 match for the seemingly simple act of wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat.
What began as a routine night cheering for Major League Soccer turned contentious as Weitzel captured the final 25 minutes on video, one that would soon go viral. The stadium security informed him that political symbols weren't allowed under the venue's Fan Code of Conduct, which led to a choice: remove the hat, store it in his car, or leave. Weitzel chose the last option, recording the entire interaction to social media.
His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with heated reactions online, raising questions about consistency in policy enforcement, selective censorship, and whether support for different forms of political expression is treated unequally. What unfolded was not just a sports story—it became a symbolic dispute over politics, policy, and personal belief.
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According to video footage and first-hand accounts, Weitzel was wearing his signature red MAGA hat when, with approximately 25 minutes left in the game, he was approached by four security guards.
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They informed him of a complaint lodged mid-game and reiterated that the stadium disallowed political paraphernalia unless pre-approved. Pressed to remove his hat or leave, he refused and was escorted out without physical conflict.
Energizer Park's published fan code specifically prohibits political banners, flags, and signage unless prior approval is granted. While hats aren't explicitly mentioned, stadium officials upheld their authority by treating any political symbol—including apparel—as subject to regulation.
Weitzel questioned why other politically associated items like Pride flags or trans banners were permitted inside, claiming inconsistency in enforcement.
Stadium reps say those were pre-approved under policy, highlighting a distinction between different expressions.
On KFTK's Marc Cox Morning Show, Weitzel described himself as a peaceful fan who was 'mind­ing my own business' before being confronted. He emphasized that he felt singled out for wearing a political symbol tied to Trump, asserting: 'I didn't think there'd be any issue with wearing that to the game, but with about 25 minutes left in the game, I was basically told they'd received a complaint about my hat,' Despite calm compliance, he expressed frustration with what he viewed as politically motivated enforcement.
He said one officer even revealed himself as a Trump supporter but claimed he was 'just following the rules.'
'They told me I could either hide the hat or take it out to my car or leave. I'm not gonna take my hat off for anybody. I live in America, which is the land of the free and the home of the brave, I thought. So you do what you have to do.' Weitzel further added while being escorted out, 'I'm being asked to leave by police. I am being threatened with arrest.
They are asking me to leave.'
Weitzel's video gained millions of views across platforms, prompting intense debate around selective censorship and public expression. Critics argued the stadium's actions amounted to political discrimination disguised as rule enforcement, while defenders emphasized the club's right to set venue policies. The incident sparked comparisons with past cases—such as a NFL fan in Arizona forced to remove a MAGA hat at kickoff—underscoring an ongoing national conversation about how sports venues navigate political imagery.
Michael Weitzel's experience has resonated beyond the stands at Energizer Park, sparking broader questions on political expression in public entertainment spaces. While St. Louis City SC insists it simply enforced its fan code, critics highlight perceived bias in permitting certain symbols while rejecting others—including the MAGA hat. Weitzel, a committed supporter of the team, now wonders whether his experience will deter him from future games.
This incident underscores the tension between venue policy and personal expression: a debate that will shape not just Olympic-level security protocols, but the everyday conversations fans have while cheering on their teams.
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