A veteran in California was asked to leave a car meet because he was displaying an American flag alongside a Trump flag on his vehicle.
The veteran shared a video online of the incident, which he said took place outside M Special Brewing Company in Goleta during a car meet hosted by R&R Motorworks. According to the veteran, an employee and event coordinator asked him to remove the American and Trump flags from his vehicle. He claimed they then asked the brewery’s manager to either have him take the flags down or leave the event altogether.
In the video, a woman identified herself as the general manager and approached the veteran. She explained that the event was not meant to involve politics and said that if someone else had shown up displaying materials supporting a different political viewpoint, she would have spoken to them as well. The veteran responded, “I believe in the president of the United States.” The manager then clarified that her request was not directed at him personally, but at keeping politics out of the event.
The manager continued by saying that the goal was to make everyone attending the event feel comfortable. The veteran responded by pointing out that one of the flags on his vehicle was the American flag. The manager again emphasized that she was not singling him out, but said the organizers wanted to keep the event politically neutral. The veteran argued that he felt he was being targeted because of his flags. The manager replied that she was simply asking him to remove them so the event could remain inclusive for all attendees.
The veteran and the manager continued going back and forth over the issue. As the discussion escalated, the manager accused the veteran of being “confrontational” and asked him to leave the event. The veteran then walked over to his vehicle and filmed the flags. He showed both the American flag and a Trump flag featuring an image from the assassination attempt. It had the phrase, “I Will Never Surrender,” on it. He then told the manager to involve law enforcement if she believed he needed to leave.
The discussion continued, with the manager making it clear that she did not want law enforcement to get involved. “I’m almost begging you to just be a decent person and comply,” she told the veteran. “I don’t want to kick you out,” she added. The veteran later posted another video showing the argument continuing. By the end of the exchange, the manager again asked him to leave the property, and he complied.
The third and final video showed sheriffs speaking with the veteran after they were called to the scene. According to the veteran’s video, a sheriff explained that he could be cited for trespassing. This is because he had been asked to remove the Trump flag. He was also asked to leave the privately owned property. The veteran ultimately chose to leave to “avoid a trespassing citation.” In the caption, he wrote, “This is how they treat U.S. military veterans who support the country and the @POTUS @realDonaldTrump.” As of now, the brewery has not publicly released a statement regarding the incident.
Viewers Outraged After California Veteran Is Kicked Out
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers were left outraged over how the California veteran was treated. They argued that he should have been allowed to remain at the event. “I’m so, so [expletive] sick of these people,” one person wrote. Others called for a boycott of the brewery over the incident. “Boycott @mspecialbrewco. It’s simple as that,” another commenter said.
More viewers criticized the manager over how she handled the situation. “She suffers from a terrible disease called TDS. Incurable,” one person wrote. Others also commented on claims that the brewery was displaying a transgender pride flag. “If the American flag is ‘too political’ but the pride/trans flags are just fine, that tells you everything about the people running the place. Private property rights go both ways—customers can also choose not to spend money where Old Glory gets treated like a threat. Marine vet shouldn’t have to take down the flag he fought for so people can sip craft beer in peace,” another commenter wrote.
The video sparked a conversation about whether political flags, including Trump flags, should be permitted at private events. This is especially if these events aim to remain politically neutral. It also started a broader discussion about how veterans should be treated with respect regardless of their political views. This is along with whether private businesses should restrict political displays on their property.
