Car meets are usually one of the few places where politics gets left in the parking lot along with everyone’s daily drivers. Everybody is there for the same reason: to look at cool metal, swap stories, and maybe debate imports versus domestics. So when a video started making the rounds showing a car owner being asked to leave a California car meet, it caught a lot of attention.
The man, who goes by Jorge Cortez on X, brought his 1969 Chevy Nova SS 396 to a car meet held at M Special Brewing Company in Goleta, California. The event was organized by R&R Motorworks. Along with his classic Nova, Cortez displayed an American flag and a Trump-themed “I Will Never Surrender” flag.
According to his posts and the videos he shared, an event coordinator approached Cortez about the flags on his car. Although the beginning of the conversation was somewhat unclear, organizers later specified that the Trump flag violated the event’s no-politics policy. When Cortez declined to remove it, the brewery’s general manager became involved, and sheriff’s deputies were eventually called.
Cortez argued that he was expressing patriotism rather than making a political statement. When a deputy arrived, he explained that because the event was taking place on private property, organizers could require Cortez to follow the event’s rules or leave. Cortez says he left to avoid a potential trespassing citation and described the responding deputies as professional and respectful.
What Happened, According to the Videos
I was kicked out of a car meet and threatened with trespassing (sheriffs were called) at a California brewery parking lot for flying an American flag and a Trump “I Will Never Surrender” flag on my classic car — because it was “political.”
This is California. TDS is real.
For… pic.twitter.com/ZIrdTpZQ6D
— Jorge Cortez 🐆 (@realJorgeCortez) July 27, 2026
Across the three clips Cortez posted, the sequence is fairly clear. An event coordinator first approaches him about the displays on his car, the conversation becomes increasingly tense, and the brewery’s general manager eventually directs him to leave the property.
During the early part of the exchange, references to removing “the flags” make it sound as though both displays may be at issue. As the conversation continues, however, organizers clarify that they are objecting to the Trump-themed “I Will Never Surrender” flag under the event’s no-politics policy.
Cortez repeatedly asks to see a written copy of that policy and argues that displaying the sitting president alongside an American flag should not be considered political. The manager says the event is intended to remain neutral and that organizers would make the same request of someone displaying political material from the opposite side.
When a deputy arrives, he tells Cortez that organizers are referring specifically to the Trump flag. He explains that the immediate legal issue is trespassing because Cortez had been directed to leave private property and was still at the event.
The deputy says Cortez can either remove the Trump flag and see whether organizers will allow him to remain or leave the property. Cortez acknowledges the explanation, stops recording so he can show the deputy the earlier footage, and says in his posts that he left shortly afterward.
The dispute ultimately came down to the rules set by organizers for an event on private property rather than whether displaying the flag was itself illegal. Whether those rules were clearly communicated, consistently applied, or fair is a separate question from whether organizers could direct an attendee to leave.
Community Reaction Has Been Split
Part 2. The Trump flag is political to her. Fair enough, it’s private property, and I ended up leaving. They just make up rules and policies because they are so triggered by @POTUS that he is our president, and they can’t tolerate their supporters. pic.twitter.com/6LbYqy68lj
— Jorge Cortez 🐆 (@realJorgeCortez) July 27, 2026
Reactions in the comments were mixed. Many people sided with Cortez, arguing that the display represented patriotism and questioning whether organizers had clearly established the rule before the event.
Others felt a flag tied to a current political figure was clearly political regardless of Cortez’s intent, particularly at an event with a stated no-politics policy. Some also accepted the manager’s claim that organizers would have made the same request of someone displaying political material from the opposite side.
Commenters questioned how the policy might apply to political bumper stickers, patriotic license plates, vehicle wraps, or replicas of famous television and movie cars carrying controversial imagery. Others noted that organizers of a private event generally have the right to establish rules and ask attendees to leave for refusing to follow them.
A few viewers disagreed with the manager’s characterization of Cortez as argumentative, saying he appeared calm while explaining his position. Others felt he prolonged the confrontation by refusing the request, repeatedly asking for law enforcement to become involved, and continuing to debate the policy after being told to leave.
One commenter wrote: “I disagree with them, but if it’s their property, they can do whatever they want. If they don’t want a Republican patriot on their land, that’s their prerogative. You’re doing a good job by showing they’re left-wing lunatics, and everyone should know that before buying their products.”
Another added: “I believe in free speech, but I also believe in private property rights. Shine a light on their business practices and let consumers decide whether they want to spend their dollars at this establishment.”
Part 3. Here is the video of the initial meeting with the Sherrifs. I agree, that’s why I left once it was all cleared up by the sheriffs, who were very cool, polite, and respectful. They knew it was BS, but it is private property, and I left shortly after. Funny thing is, I met… pic.twitter.com/DMgy4e38Ra
— Jorge Cortez 🐆 (@realJorgeCortez) July 27, 2026
Our Take
Car meets work best when they stay focused on the cars. That is a big part of the appeal. Organizers are within their rights to set a no-politics policy for an event held on private property, and attendees are equally free to disagree with how that policy is interpreted or applied.
The full footage also provides more context than many of the reactions circulating online. What begins as a somewhat confusing exchange eventually becomes a straightforward disagreement over whether a flag supporting a current political figure belongs at an event intended to remain apolitical.
Either way, disagreements like this are better resolved through a calm conversation than through an escalating argument. The deputy handled the situation professionally, explained the private-property issue, and gave Cortez a clear choice without turning the disagreement into something more serious.
At the end of the day, a 1969 Nova SS 396 deserves to be talked about for its 396-cubic-inch big-block V8, not its flagpole.
Sounds like the Beer manufacturer was making up the rules as they went along. If you are triggered by a flag like that then your boast shows for all your customers to see. Allowing the pride flag on another of the companies sires shows just how political they really are. That is called being a Hypocrite! May the customers vote with their feet. Bud Light comes to mind!