MAGA Hat-Wearing Fan Removed from St. Louis MLS Game Sparks Debate

A widely viewed video from a Major League Soccer match has garnered over 4.5 million views on X, not primarily for the gameplay but due to an incident involving a fan wearing a "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) hat. The fan, who identified himself as Michael Weitzel, recorded himself being asked to leave the stadium at Energizer Park in St. Louis City, home of St. Louis City SC. In the footage, Weitzel narrates as stadium security personnel, law enforcement officers, and officials converse with him, informing him of his removal and warning that refusal could lead to him being escorted out in handcuffs. The stadium's policies and Major League Soccer's regulations prohibit the display of political symbols. Weitzel contested his removal, claiming he was being unfairly targeted, especially since other fans were seen waving flags that appeared to have political significance. An officer told him those flags were "pre-approved." Weitzel, a Trump supporter, expressed frustration over what he perceived as selective enforcement. The video was shared by Gregg Keller, former executive director of the American Conservative Union, via the Atlas Strategy Group, boosting its visibility. Keller ...