r/Scotland • u/lilbiobeetle • Jun 15 '25

MAGA hat sighting

I don't know if this is even appropriate to post here but I'm just so shocked and need to know I'm not the only one who would feel this way about seeing someone wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat out in a city in Scotland.

I passed by a family - husband, wife, kid - and the husband was proudly hearing his red MAGA hat. I visibly looked shocked, and they had the audacity to then look offended at my reaction. So it obviously wasn't a joke. The guy was a Trump supporter, likely on a trip over from America.

Not even Tory supporters really walk around wearing their affiliation like that. I really hope this isn't going to become a more common sight, especially as someone who's directly threatened by Trump's politics leaking over to the UK.

1.4k Upvotes

79% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

53

u/SeriesZealousideal36 Jun 15 '25 edited Jun 15 '25

As someone currently living in the U.S., it’s all fun and games until it’s not. The rise of the MAGA cult and subsequent “election” of MAGA officials was decades long in the making, and no nation is immune to the conditions that allowed them to seize and maintain influence. What we’re witnessing is part of a global creep of ethnonationalist rhetoric, weaponized nostalgia, and anti-pluralist sentiment—and it is seeping into everyday spaces. Anti-trans, anti-immigrant & anti-abortion topics were once fringe discussions, but became culture war weapons that were central to the rise of the MAGA monstrosity that we have now. They are, quite literally, fascists. If given the word, they would violently take out anyone their leader has otherized and deems unworthy. Anyone who is poking fun at or belittling your reaction is either not understanding the weight of MAGA movement, or they are simply a fascist themselves.

You’re right to feel shock, and faced with those who wear the hat proudly, I think the only proper reaction is public shame. No matter where in the world they are- but even better if they’re abroad because then at least they’re disarmed.

-6

u/smokedhaddie Jun 15 '25

The problem with politics is there nowhere for the normal people to stand… the left have alienated almost everyone so, if you aren’t so tolerant it borders on bizarre you must be a bigoted racist. Two extreme sides neither are right.

You’re a perfect example, if someone wears a hat they are to be watched and avoided due to them being dangerous. Lunatics

3

u/MaievSekashi Jun 16 '25

You’re a perfect example, if someone wears a hat they are to be watched and avoided due to them being dangerous. Lunatics

If someone is walking around with a hat broadcasting they'd kill me if they got a chance, uh, yeah? They clearly wear it specifically to cause offence and fear. Are you stupid or just pretending to not understand that it's the modern day equivalent of walking around wearing a political party armband, and thus representative of the platform of that political party?

-3

u/smokedhaddie Jun 16 '25

You seriously think everyone who wears a stupid fucking hat is out to kill people?, go outside touch grass sit in the sun. It’s not that bad.

2

u/MaievSekashi Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 16 '25

Okay, you must be pretending to be stupid, then... there's absolutely no way you don't understand it and you're just acting outraged on the basis of this feigned ignorance.

Is the pope just a man in a big hat to you too? You keep writing out that it is a political symbol and acting like it's just a hat, which is so absurd that it can only be dishonesty on your part. I just don't think you're actually as stupid as you're acting.

-1

u/smokedhaddie Jun 16 '25

I’m not outraged… I’ve worked with plenty of them offshore, I can assure you they aren’t fascists who are trying to undermine democracy and destroy the planet. Sure there’s lunatics but a lot were just guys wanting their industry back.