MAGA 'Magic: The Gathering' champ banned from Pittsburgh tournament over hat: report

A champion card player of Magic: The Gathering was allegedly barred from competing in an upcoming event for wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat at previous tournaments.

Joe Brennan, a four-time Magic: The Gathering tournament winner in 2025, was denied participation in an upcoming tournament in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Card Titan, the company hosting the event, issued a statement on X last week emphasizing its commitment to maintaining an environment where "all attendees can feel safe." 

"Unfortunately, from time to time conduct of a community member fails to meet our expectations and we have to make tough choices in order to preserve a positive event experience," the statement read. “Any attendees who engage in conduct detrimental to these values will have their badges revoked, be asked to leave the premises, and be banned from future Card Titan events.”

While Brennan was not named in the statement, it is widely believed to be in reference to him.

According to a report by The Blaze, a petition has been launched by a man named Conor Clarke in an attempt to have Brennan reinstated. The letter was signed by players with “differing political views” who argued that Brennan’s ban “raises serious concerns” for the community. 

The letter noted that Brennan was "banned from many game stores and Magic events for wearing the MAGA hat," despite already having paid to play in the Pittsburgh tournament. It also claimed that Brennan’s ban was linked to "multiple reports" concerning his “behavior” last year.

Multiple posts on social media over the past few years have complained about Brennan’s hat. A 2023 Reddit post lamented that Brennan wears "his MAGA hat to every tournament, knowing it irritates people." It also said he “cannot be a good person” because MAGA means “Black Lives Don’t Matter.” A 2024 X post by another user compared Brennan to Nazi’s, calling for him to be “kicked out," all over a hat.