Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe was arrested this past Tuesday after causing a disruption at a city council meeting in Huntington Beach, California. His protest, which targeted President Trump’s influence, was centered around the city’s decision to display a plaque at the public library with words like “Magical,” “Alluring,” “Galvanizing,” and “Adventurous,” which when put together, spelled out “MAGA.”
All members of the city council, who are Republicans, had supported the plaque’s installation. Kluwe, a former punter for the Minnesota Vikings, took the opportunity during the public comment portion of the meeting to launch a tirade against the MAGA movement and its supporters. His remarks were highly inflammatory and included accusations of racism, censorship, and even comparisons to Nazi ideology.
Kluwe argued that “MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence,” “resegregation and racism,” “book bans,” “firing air traffic controllers,” and other grievances he associated with former President Trump’s policies. He went so far as to say that MAGA “is explicitly a Nazi movement,” claiming that the red hats worn by Trump supporters were a modern-day equivalent to swastikas. These divisive and extreme statements were met with applause from a section of the crowd, though the meeting itself was meant to be about local matters, not national political debates.
As Kluwe approached the council members and continued his protest, law enforcement swiftly intervened. He was escorted out in handcuffs after disrupting the meeting. Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark criticized Kluwe’s actions, calling them “irresponsible” and stating that his behavior, which included rushing the dais, was alarming, particularly to the young students in attendance.
Kluwe, who played in the NFL from 2005 to 2013, has a history of speaking out on social issues. He previously claimed he was released from the Vikings after advocating for same-sex marriage, though the team denied that his beliefs were the reason for his departure.
While Kluwe’s protest may have been aimed at drawing attention to his political beliefs, it ultimately distracted from meaningful conversation in a setting that was not the right venue for his message. As many conservative Americans can agree, protests should not disrupt the work of local government, especially when the intent seems to be more about grandstanding than fostering constructive dialogue.
WATCH:
Civil Disobedience is often necessary. Thank you @ChrisKluwe pic.twitter.com/HrbTCAZpru
— Protect HB (@protect_hb) February 19, 2025