Man Removed from Delta Flight for Wearing Donald Trump T-Shirt Flipping the Bird

Delta Airlines removed a passenger from a flight at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport on Saturday morning, allegedly due to his choice of attire—a T-shirt featuring former President Donald Trump flipping the bird and Hawk Tuah meme.

According to a viral post on the Reddit group r/delta per New York Post, the man was initially allowed to board the plane after turning his T-shirt inside out following a complaint from another passenger.

However, just before takeoff, a Delta employee re-entered the aircraft and escorted the man off, apparently because he had reverted his shirt to display the controversial decal.

“Crazy day in Sarasota airport, I was sitting next to a young man before boarding that had on a Trump shirt with middle fingers and a red coat came over and told him some lady complained and he had to change his shirt or he could not get on the plane. He turned his shirt inside out, and we all boarded. Next thing I know, right before takeoff, a Delta employee comes on the plane and escorts him off the flight, he had flipped his shirt back to the decal side. IDK but I’ve seen way worse….girl half naked boarded and left alone,” the uploader wrote.

In the video, the man can be heard saying, “I’m getting kicked off because of my shirt,” as he walks down the aisle with his luggage. He also takes a moment to criticize the Delta employee escorting him off the flight, calling her “stupid-ass Wendy” after reading her name tag.

WATCH:

This man was kicked off his Delta flight because he was wearing a Trump t-shirt.

This is how far we’ve fallen—getting booted from a flight over a shirt. pic.twitter.com/jTZkcgezUj

— Clown World ™ (@ClownWorld_) September 1, 2024

According to Delta’s Contract of Carriage, “Delta may refuse to transport or may remove passengers from its aircraft in any of the following situations, [including] When the passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.”

Some defended Delta’s action, saying it wasn’t about Trump but instead about the vulgarity of the shirt. But some say it is a First Amendment right.

Social media has been flooded with calls to boycott Delta Airlines, accusing the company of engaging in discriminatory practices against those who express their political views.

One user wrote, “Last I checked, we were the land of the free, not the land of ‘if you support Trump, you’re grounded.’ This isn’t just un-American; it’s a new low in political pettiness. When did expressing your political preference become a boarding pass issue? #FreedomOfExpression”