A New York bartender threw a Trump supporter out for wearing a MAGA hat in 2019 – and a Manhattan judge ruled that was perfectly legal.
Corporate America learned exactly the wrong lesson.
A Panda Express in Washington state just called 911 on a man wearing a Trump hat – and it backfired badly.
What Happened When Panda Express Called the Police on a MAGA Hat
Chris Sims walked into the Lakewood, Washington Panda Express with a MAGA hat on his head.
A cook started staring at him.
Not for a second – for the entire visit.
Sims gave the cook a thumbs up.
That was it.
The staff called 911 and told police Sims was refusing to leave the restaurant.
Sims had already walked out.
He was standing on a public sidewalk, livestreaming, when multiple employees came outside to intimidate him into stopping.
The Lakewood Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital what happened next.
Officers spoke with Sims and his fellow vlogger Danny Rebel, confirmed they had done nothing wrong, and told restaurant management the employees' behavior would need to be addressed internally.
The woman who called 911 cried and walked back into the building.
She had reported a crime that never happened.
"No crime, No disturbance, Just a hat and a Thumbs up," Sims wrote on X.
"This is blatant political discrimination."
Panda Express Responds to MAGA Hat Discrimination Claim
When Fox News Digital contacted Panda Restaurant Group, the spokesperson delivered the most carefully crafted non-response in fast food history.
"We want everyone who walks into Panda Express to feel welcome and treated with respect."
Except Chris Sims.
The spokesperson added that the situation "was handled and addressed at the restaurant level."
Translation: the employees who called police on a man for wearing a hat faced zero consequences.
Corporate said they "reinforced to all our associates the importance of delivering a consistent, welcoming experience for every guest."
Sims wore a MAGA hat to that Panda Express.
He got a 911 call and multiple employees surrounding him on a public sidewalk.
That is the "consistent, welcoming experience" at this company.
Kicking Out Trump Supporters: The Pattern Corporate America Keeps Repeating
Trump supporters have been targeted in restaurants and retail establishments since 2016.
The Jake's Dilemma bartender threw out a Trump supporter for his hat in New York in 2019, and a Manhattan judge later confirmed restaurants could legally do it – political affiliation isn't a protected class under federal civil rights law.
The pattern has repeated across the country for a decade.
Lakewood was different.
The employees didn't just refuse service.
They picked up a phone, told police a crime was being committed, and used a 911 call to remove a man whose hat offended them.
Refusing service is one thing.
Filing a false police report is another.
The #BoycottPandaExpress hashtag exploded across social media within days of the story going public.
Panda Express Made Its Position Clear
Every employee at that Panda Express knows management and HR share their politics.
They know a corporate statement about "welcoming experiences" means no one gets fired.
So they got bolder – and a thumbs up became grounds for a 911 call.
The police didn't go along with it.
They showed up, told the employees the customer had done nothing wrong, and left.
The employee who called 911 is still working at that Panda Express today.
Panda Express had a choice after this went public.
Firing the employees who filed a police report would have been a start.
A real apology to Chris Sims would have helped.
Instead they issued a statement about "welcoming experiences" and called it handled.
That is not a company that made a mistake.
Panda Express made a decision.
Sources:
- Rachel del Guidice, "Panda Express workers called police over MAGA hat, customer says," Fox News, May 19, 2026.
- Chris Sims, post on X, May 11, 2026.
- "Panda Express promises 'welcoming experience' after MAGA hat wearing vlogger says he was kicked out," Just The News, May 19, 2026.
- "NYC Bar Disciplines Bartender After MAGA Hat-Wearing Man Refused Service," NBC New York, March 11, 2019.
- "Here's How One Restaurant Manager (And Its Corporation) Treated a Man in a MAGA Hat," Townhall, July 4, 2018.
