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TheMAGA hat is a hat introduced during theDonald Trump 2016 presidential campaign. It is usually red and features the campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) in white uppercase letters. It has since grown to become a symbol of belonging for those part of the MAGA movement, a political movement led byDonald Trump.
The red hat bearing the slogan "Make America Great Again" was released in 2016 as apparel for the first presidential campaign ofDonald Trump. Owing to its white-on-red design,[1][2] it found great success as a symbol of unity among Trump supporters. Its use has been compared to American far-right partisan symbols, like theConfederate flag.[3][4]
Due to it being viewed as an outward symbol ofTrumpist identity, it is generally considered inflammatory to wear the MAGA hat in public.[5][6] In January 2019, it gained notoriety duringa highly-publicized standoff between a group of high schoolers wearing the hat andOmaha tribe leaderNathan Phillips. Due to the perceived racist nature of the incident, actress and activistAlyssa Milano compared the hat to theKu Klux Klan hood.[7][8]
On December 29, 2022, the9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Vancouver, Washington ruled that wearing a MAGA hat is considered protected speech under theFirst Amendment. A former teacher had worn a MAGA hat to class to school and described facing verbal harassment andretaliation from school employees.[9]
The MAGA hat has at times beenco-opted by non-supporters. At a9/11 memorial event in September 2024, PresidentJoe Biden momentarily wore the hat to underline the theme of unity on that day.[10]
