Latest news with #Weitzel
Sky News AU
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Diehard soccer fan kicked out of St. Louis stadium for wearing MAGA cap: ‘Trump is not welcome here'
It was a red card offense. A diehard Major League Soccer fan was kicked out of a Missouri stadium for wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat during a match, according to shocking footage from the game. Michael Weitzel was sporting the signature red cap inspired by President Trump's campaign slogan at the July 26 St. Louis City SC soccer game at Energizer Park when security approached and asked him to leave with about 25 minutes remaining. The brief incident, which Weitzel filmed and posted on social media, unfolded after someone filed a complaint with stadium police mid-game. '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,' the season ticket holder told KFTK's Marc Cox Morning Show. '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.' The 32-acre St. Louis stadium prohibits political banners, flags, images, and signs inside the arena unless pre-approved, according to the Fan Code of Conduct listed on the soccer club's website. In Weitzel's video, he's seen wearing the MAGA hat and a red shirt as four security guards approach and calmly explain that the club doesn't allow political symbols inside the stadium and ask him to leave. 'I'm being asked to leave by police. I am being threatened with arrest. They are asking me to leave,' Weitzel said as he's being escorted out of the match, with some onlookers jeering and booing behind him. 'I am being evicted from the premises because of Donald Trump – because we can't wear Donald Trump hats in public. Now I am being evicted from the premises. Trump is not welcome at St. Louis City SC club. Trump is not welcome here.' An officer leading Weitzel out of the building told him he was also a Trump supporter, but said he was simply enforcing the club's rules. 'He gets it, he's just following the rules,' Weitzel said, the footage shows. 'It's not his fault. This is the stadium's rules here. So that's what happens if you wear a Donald Trump hat to a St. Louis City Soccer Club game.' Weitzel told KFTK he was minding his own business during the game – ignoring attendees who were 'flipping him the bird' – and was stunned that today's political climate has sparked incidents like this. He's now reluctant to return to Energizer Stadium, even after purchasing three years' worth of tickets to support the St. Louis team. 'I do want to see them do well,' Weitzel told the morning show. 'I don't really want to let the actions of a few small-minded people or a few angry complainers stop me from enjoying something that I love.' Originally published as Diehard soccer fan kicked out of St. Louis stadium for wearing MAGA cap: 'Trump is not welcome here'
Newsweek
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
MLS Fan Kicked Out of Stadium for Wearing MAGA Hat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Major League Soccer (MLS) fan said he was booted from a Missouri stadium and threatened with arrest for wearing a red Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat. A man, who identified himself as Michael Weitzel in footage he filmed from a match on July 26, said he was "asked to leave" the St. Louis City SC soccer game at Energizer Park by security personnel over the hat, which is widely recognized as a symbol associated with President Donald Trump and his political movement. Newsweek has reached out to MLS and St. Louis City SC for comment. Why It Matters The MAGA hat is often characterized by a red baseball cap featuring the slogan Make America Great Again, in white embroidered lettering, although colors can vary. Some caps simply say MAGA. The phrase was popularized during Trump's 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, with the MAGA cap often worn by the president himself, and it has since become a culturally significant and often divisive emblem. What To Know Footage of the incident has gone viral on X, formerly Twitter, gaining more than 2 million views at the time of writing, with some critics argue that the man's ousting infringes on his rights of freedom of speech. The St. Louis City SC Energizer Park rules ban political banners and signs. When I heard this young man state his name and saw that this was in STL I wondered if he was related to my fraternity brother who is from St. Louis and still lives there. Turns out, he's his nephew. Proud of this family for standing up. — David Limbaugh (@DavidLimbaugh) August 3, 2025 "I am Michael Weitzel and I have been asked to leave because of the Donald Trump hat," he said in the video, in which he can be seen engaging with security personnel and law enforcement. A security official responded by saying they "don't want any kind of political" messaging. According to published rules for Energizer Park, political banners are prohibited, though no explicit mention is made of political clothing or accessories such as hats. Banners should not contain "commercial, political or offensive content," the rules state. Weitzel challenged whether the rules were being enforced consistently, pointing to a nearby section where fans were waving flags. During the exchange, Weitzel was told he could return to his seat if he removed the hat. "If you take the hat off, you can go back in," a staff member said. After briefly removing the hat, another voice off-camera responded, "We are way past that point," prompting Weitzel to put the hat back on. Before leaving, Weitzel said , "So this is what happens when you wear a Donald Trump hat at a St. Louis City SC game." He also noted that the security officer was simply enforcing venue policy, saying, "It is not his fault. He is just following the rules." What People Are Saying David Limbaugh, a lawyer and author, said on X: "When I heard this young man state his name and saw that this was in STL I wondered if he was related to my fraternity brother who is from St. Louis and still lives there. Turns out, he's his nephew. Proud of this family for standing up." T.J. Moe, a former professional football wide receiver, said on X: "A man got kicked out of @stlCITYsc game for wearing a MAGA hat. He asked why they allowed pride flags everywhere and they had no answer. This is happening in 2025. Absolute absurdity. The backlash to STL City SC should be immense and severe." Internet personality Mario Nawfal post on X: "Is there major discrimination against showing public support for Trump? What's the fix?" Other X users wrote: "My boys love soccer, but if the @MLS is going to remove fans with MAGA hats they can forget about my family ever attending! Also, I just canceled my MLS subscription on Apple TV!" Another said: "To those who somehow think only MAGA is held to the 'no political' standard in @MLS stadiums, particularly @stlCITYsc. When I sang the national anthem for the Pride match, I had this shirt one [sic] when I arrived and they made me change. It's not one side. Quit whining and grow up." "Completely unconstitutional. It is open to the general public AND if you allow 'Pride' flags … then that hat should be OK too. I hope he sues," wrote another account. What Happens Next Gregg Keller, a GOP strategist, said on X that the footage is "now being looked at by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice."
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Donald Trump supporter thrown out of St Louis soccer stadium mid-game after refusing to remove MAGA hat
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. The MAGA hat clash: Everything we know about the St Louis stadium incident Fan KICKED OUT of MLS game for wearing MAGA HAT! Calls out HYPOCRISY as PRIDE FLAGS fly in stadium! 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like It's so easy and quick Cars24 - Sell Your Car Sell Now Undo 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. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
![Diehard Trump -Supporting Soccer Fan Thrown Out of MLS Stadium for Wearing MAGA Cap [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdata.ibtimes.sg%2Fen%2Ffull%2F82730%2Fmichael-weitzel.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![Diehard Trump -Supporting Soccer Fan Thrown Out of MLS Stadium for Wearing MAGA Cap [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fibtimes.sg.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
International Business Times
04-08-2025
- Politics
- International Business Times
Diehard Trump -Supporting Soccer Fan Thrown Out of MLS Stadium for Wearing MAGA Cap [WATCH]
A diehard Major League Soccer fan was removed from a stadium in Missouri for sporting a "Make America Great Again" hat during a match, according to a shocking footage from the game. Michael Weitzel was wearing the signature red hat bearing former President Trump's campaign slogan during the July 26 St. Louis City SC match at Energizer Park when security personnel approached him and told him to leave, with roughly 25 minutes left in the game. The video, first shared on X by journalist Greg Keller, shows Weitzel recording himself while being escorted out of the stadium by police for wearing the "Make America Great Again" hat at the venue. Pulled Up for No Mistake Michael Weitzel was thrown out from a MSL stadium for wearing a MAGA cap X The short encounter, recorded by Weitzel and shared on social media, took place after a complaint was made to stadium police during the middle of the game. "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," the season ticket holder told KFTK's Marc Cox Morning Show. "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." As Weitzel was being escorted out, a police officer—who said he also supports Trump—explained that he was simply carrying out the club's policy banning political expressions at the venue. In the background, the sound of boos and jeers can be heard. "He gets it, he's just following the rules," Weitzel says of the officer dealing with him. "It's not his fault. This is the stadium's rules here." Club's Own Rules Michael Weitzel seen being removed from the stadium for wearing a MAGA cap X The exact timing of the incident remains uncertain. Keller shared the video on August 2, saying it took place "last night," although the most recent St. Louis City match was a friendly against Premier League club Aston Villa on July 30. According to the Fan Code of Conduct on the soccer club's website, the 32-acre St. Louis stadium does not allow political banners, flags, images, or signs inside the venue unless they have received prior approval. Weitzel told KFTK that he was keeping to himself during the match, choosing to ignore other fans who were "giving him the finger," and said he was shocked that the current political atmosphere has led to situations like this. Now hesitant to go back to Energizer Stadium, he said that the incident has made him reconsider attending, despite having already bought tickets for the next three seasons to support the St. Louis team. "I do want to see them do well," Weitzel told the morning show. I don't really want to let the actions of a few small-minded people or a few angry complainers stop me from enjoying something that I love."
Sky News AU
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
Soccer fan shockingly booted from stadium for wearing a ‘Make America Great Again' hat
A Major League Soccer fan was abruptly escorted out of a stadium for sporting a 'Make America Great Again' cap. The fan, who identified himself as Michael Weitzel, filmed himself as he was 'asked to leave' by the stadium's security. Weitzel, whose video was later posted to X by another user, attended St. Louis City's home game at the club's stadium, Energizer Park. The game Weitzel attended and was later removed from was St. Louis City's 2-1 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, July 26. During the fan's exchange with security and law enforcement, he explained he was 'asked to leave because of the Donald Trump hat.'
