Town halls across the U.S. have seen a lot in 2025. One boomer’s scalp is going to see even more now that someone snatched his red hat off his head. The incident occurred at a Bernie Sanders town hall event in Altoona, Wisconsin on Saturday. The event drew a crowd of approximately 2,600, a significant statement for a town of less than 10,000. Donald Trump and his policies face stiff pushback from many as his administration drags the country deeper into authoritarianism. One consequence? Wearing red MAGA ballcaps in support of Trump now might get that cap taken.
Wisconsin Boomer Loses Red Hat in Altoona
Based on the video and public reaction, it seems the snatched hat was a “Make America Great Again” cap. The red ballcaps have become an infamous symbol of the Trump brand. Secret police, illegal detainments, and the suppression of free speech and protest existed in the U.S. before Trump, but they’re now key pieces of his legacy too. Senator Sanders represents one of the biggest and most vocal of Trump’s opponents in America, making his town hall events unsafe territory for fascists. The hat grab was seemingly inevitable.
A Reddit post by u/derek4reals1 about the town hall hat incident in Altoona garnered over 8k upvotes and many supportive comments. “Nazis had the armbands, the trumpists have the hats. It’s the same cult tradition [Sic],” said one. Other commenters couldn’t help but laugh at the way the person ran after snatching the hat. As one put it,
The way my man ran away like he was on a playground. 🤣😂 patriotic work there sir!
Snatching a hat at an Altoona town hall won’t remove Trump from office, but it sends a message. Many in the U.S. will no longer tolerate overt displays of bigotry, hate, or authoritarianism. As long as the MAGA hat remains a symbol of oppression, Trump supporters may want to rethink their headwear or hatred before attending.
