US Indian Student Beaten for Wearing MAGA Cap

A US Indian student at Washington State University (WSU) said he was attacked by two men for wearing a Make America Great Again cap.

Surveillance footage obtained by Turning Point USA Frontlines reporter Jonathan Choe appeared to show two men pulling engineering student Jay Sani to the ground and hitting him outside a bar near the Pullman campus on February 28.

Jay said WSU instructor Patrick Mahoney, along with Gerald Hoff, ripped off his MAGA hat and assaulted him.

Jay recalled: “He said to me, ‘Go get it b***h’.

“He punched me a bunch of times on the back.

“Gerald also kicked me a bunch of times too. Patrick, he grabbed my chest and slammed it on the concrete as I was falling.”

Footage appeared to show the men pulling Jay as he walked past, then shoving him to the ground and repeatedly punching him.

In a Facebook post, Jay wrote: “A fight ensued which resulted in Jay Sani being thrown onto the concrete.

“This caused Jay Sani to bleed and suffer further injuries. One or more of them then proceeded to kick Jay Sani while he collapsed on the concrete.”

Jay Sani reported the assault to police, who located and questioned both men hours later.

Bodycam footage showed the men admitting to the confrontation but downplayed the severity of the incident.

Mahoney said: “I’ve seen this guy f*****g on campus before. I know he’s like, f*****g like, right-wing dude.”

Hoff added: “I, like, grabbed his hat, threw it, and I said like, ‘Go get it’.

“We did grab him and bring him to the ground.”

Mahoney attempted to blame the US Indian student for provoking the fight.

He claimed: “I didn’t f*****g hit him. I don’t think I did f*****g something illegal.

“He wanted to fight, he f*****g got what’s coming to him. I gave him a hit to be like, ‘Yo, don’t f**k with us anymore’.”

Both Mahoney and Hoff were arrested and charged with fourth-degree misdemeanour assault.

Watch the Footage. Warning – Violent Images

EXCLUSIVE: Frontlines reporter @choeshow has obtained surveillance footage showing Washington State University (WSU) PhD student instructor Patrick Mahoney and WSU employee Gerald Hoff attacking engineering student Jay Sani.

Sani claims that Mahoney and Hoff assaulted him… pic.twitter.com/AhNae3FDMT

— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) April 15, 2025

According to student newspaper The Daily Evergreen, WSU suspended Mahoney and removed him from the classes he taught.

Jay said: “It should go without saying that this is completely unacceptable behaviour from anyone employed by or affiliated with WSU.”

He admitted he did not know Hoff but believed past encounters with Mahoney may have contributed to the assault.

Jay Sani is involved with conservative groups on campus, including Turning Point USA.

Mahoney is described as a far-left PhD student who has participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and advocated for a Gaza ceasefire resolution at Pullman City Council.