A disgruntled supporter of former President Donald Trump was forcibly removed from a Delta Airlines flight at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Florida after refusing to comply with the airline’s dress code.
The incident, which took place on Saturday morning, was captured in a video posted on Reddit, quickly drawing attention and sparking debate.
The passenger was seen wearing a black t-shirt emblazoned with an image of Trump sporting American-flag sunglasses while flipping the middle finger with both hands.
The shirt also featured the phrase “HAWK TUAH” in large white letters above the image and included a lewd reference at the bottom: “Spit on that thang,” a crude allusion to a viral video involving internet sensation Hailey Welch.
As he was escorted off the plane, the irate man loudly protested to fellow passengers, saying: “I’m getting kicked off because of my shirt,” while pointing out the Delta employee who had reported him.
He sarcastically thanked the flight attendant, whose name he read aloud, calling her “stupid a** Wendy.”
According to a Reddit user who shared the video, the man had initially complied with a request from Delta staff to turn his shirt inside out after another passenger complained.
However, just before takeoff, he reverted the shirt back to its original state, leading to his removal from the flight.
Delta Airlines’ contract of carriage allows the airline to refuse service to individuals whose attire “creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.”
Many online commenters supported the airline’s decision.
“Private company enforces a dress code. Seems pretty easy,” one user wrote.
“Probably got kicked off because of the middle fingers being displayed on the T-shirt. I see lots of MAGA shirts when I fly,” another commented.
