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. https://t.co/pjjaiXabTP
— 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.”
Jim Vondruska/Getty Images
