PULLMAN, Wash. (Diya TV) — A Washington State University instructor was fired after he allegedly assaulted a student wearing a Trump campaign hat during a confrontation near campus earlier this year.
The incident, first reported by the Discovery Institute’s Jonathan Choe, unfolded just before 11 p.m. on Feb. 28, when Jay Sani, an engineering student at WSU, was walking to a nearby restaurant to return an incorrect food order. According to Pullman Police, Sani was approached by Patrick Mahoney, an instructor and Ph.D. student in WSU’s School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, who allegedly grabbed Sani’s red “Take America Back” hat, a design from President Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, and threw it into the street.
“Go get it, b—-,” Mahoney allegedly told Sani, according to the police report.
When Sani tried to defend himself, a second man, identified as Gerald Hoff, allegedly tackled him to the ground. Sani told police Mahoney then grabbed his head and slammed it against the pavement, leaving him with a laceration on his elbow and visible bruises. Mahoney later admitted to punching Sani in the jaw while he was down, and Hoff told officers he had struck Sani’s leg with a closed fist, according to the report.
Eyewitnesses confirmed much of Sani’s account, telling officers they saw one man shove a person wearing a red Trump hat, throw food in his face, and push him to the ground.
Officers located Mahoney and Hoff shortly after the incident in downtown Pullman. When questioned, Mahoney acknowledged recognizing Sani from campus and criticized his choice of headwear.
“You’re f—— wearing that hat, you wanted someone to f—— look at it, right?” Mahoney said, according to the report. He added: “You wanna wear the hat, hey, there’s gonna be a price to pay.”
Despite the confrontation, Sani told police he understood the hat could trigger strong reactions, but expressed that he should be free to wear it without fear of violence. An officer reportedly responded, telling Sani he had every right to wear what he wanted.
Both Mahoney and Hoff were arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault, according to Pullman Police. They were later released.
The Daily Evergreen, WSU’s student newspaper, reported that Mahoney was suspended from his teaching duties following the incident. A university spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that after the police investigation concluded, the staff member was terminated, and a second individual — identified as a graduate student teaching assistant — was relieved of all teaching responsibilities. The university did not release their names, citing federal privacy laws.
In a March Facebook post, Sani wrote about the encounter, saying he decided to share his story because of “how toxic the left has gotten.” He also defended his right to support political candidates of his choice, writing: “I’m an engineering student that wants to get the degree, and move on. So what if I like someone that you don’t like. We have the 1st Amendment, and it’s not okay that just because you don’t like that person, I should be attacked for it.”
