A Washington state Panda Express apparently served up a side of political hysteria with the orange chicken after employees allegedly called the cops on two conservative vloggers over — brace yourself — a MAGA hat and a thumbs-up gesture.
Because in 2026 America, flashing support for Donald Trump can apparently get you treated like you just robbed the register.
Conservative content creator Chris Sims says he and fellow vlogger Danny Rebel were booted from a Lakewood Panda Express after employees took offense to Sims’ “Make America Great Again” hat. According to Sims, the drama started when he noticed a cook glaring at him from behind the counter like he’d walked in wearing a Che Guevara shirt at a CPAC convention.
Sims said he responded with a thumbs-up and tried to defuse the awkward tension by asking if there was a problem.
The alleged answer? “Your hat.”
That was apparently enough to send the restaurant into full-blown Seattle-area meltdown mode.
Sims later posted on X that employees “proceeded to call the police, and falsely say we were refusing to leave.” He said he complied, exited the restaurant and stood on the public sidewalk — where, according to his account, staff members continued confronting him and demanding he stop filming.
“The Police informed the staff that we did nothing wrong,” Sims wrote. “The woman who called 911 cried and walked back into the building. No crime, No disturbance, Just a hat and a Thumbs up.”
That’s right: not a fight, not vandalism, not threats — allegedly just a red cap and a positive hand gesture. Somewhere, common sense is curled up in the fetal position.
The incident reportedly unfolded May 10 in Lakewood, Washington, another deep-blue pocket of the Pacific Northwest where progressive politics often seem less like a viewpoint and more like a mandatory workplace seminar.
The vloggers had reportedly been livestreaming their visit when the confrontation escalated. Video clips circulating online fueled outrage among conservatives who say Trump supporters continue to face open hostility in public spaces years after the former president left office.
Panda Express’ corporate parent, Panda Restaurant Group, tried to calm the waters with a carefully lawyered statement that managed to say plenty while admitting almost nothing.
“We want everyone who walks into Panda Express to feel welcome and treated with respect,” a spokesperson said, adding that the company had reviewed the situation internally and “reinforced to all our associates the importance of delivering a consistent, welcoming experience for every guest.”
The Lakewood Police Department confirmed officers responded to the incident, though no charges were filed and no crime appears to have occurred.
