Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe was arrested and dragged out of a Huntington Beach city council meeting after giving a fiery anti-MAGA speech.

Chris Kluwe's Sudden Rant Triggers Controversy

Former Vikings Punter Chris Kluwe Arrested After Anti-MAGA Rant, Calling Former Vikings Punter Chris Kluwe Arrested After Anti-MAGA Rant, Calling
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Chris Kluwe, the outspoken former NFL punter who played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2005 to 2012, made headlines again—this time, not for his football skills, but for a fiery political outburst. As TMZ Sports reports, he attended a Huntington Beach city council meeting, where he launched into a passionate speech condemning MAGA supporters.

"MAGA is profoundly corrupt," Kluwe stated, labeling the movement as "anti-democracy" and going so far as to label it an "explicitly Nazi movement." His comments triggered both anger and applause from the crowd.

Arrested for Disrupting the Meeting

It heated up fast when Kluwe stated he would be practicing "peaceful civil disobedience." As he tried to make his way toward the city council members, officers quickly acted. Multiple police officers detained him, handcuffed him, and led him out of City Hall.

The whole experience was videotaped, and video evidence indicates that Kluwe struggled somewhat before being escorted out of the chamber.

The Huntington Beach Police Department later said that he was arrested on a charge of "disturbance of an assembly" and was released after four hours in custody.

A History of Activism and Controversy

This is not the first time Kluwe has made headlines for his outspokenness. Throughout his NFL career, he was famous for speaking out on social and political issues:

Protesting Hall of Fame Policies: In 2012, Kluwe famously placed a "Vote Ray Guy" sticker over the Pro Football Hall of Fame patch on his jersey in protest of punters being left out of the Hall of Fame. The prank got him a $5,000 fine.

Struggling for LGBTQ+ Rights: In 2014, Kluwe claimed the Vikings cut him for supporting same-sex marriage. Though the team refused, the incident heightened debates over politics in sports.

Since his arrest, Kluwe has not issued a public statement, but considering his past, he won't remain quiet for long. His recent act of defiance keeps the debate about free speech, political expression, and the cost of defying strong movements.

As for MAGA, 49ers' defensive end Nick Bosa is looking at it with a different lens. While Kluwe heavily opposed the Trump-led movement, Bosa proudly said "it's worth every penny"—all while wearing a MAGA hat.