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The Washington Nationals banned an attendee from their home Nationals Park after he displayed a banner promoting a white nationalist website during a game Sunday.
The team released a statement to several media outlets, saying they had identified at least one of the people involved, but did not disclose their identity.
“The Washington Nationals vehemently condemn any discriminatory and hateful rhetoric, and we strive to make our home field a safe space for our fans,” read the Nationals’ statement after the game against the Baltimore Orioles.
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A Washington Nationals Armed Forces Weekend cap sits in the dugout during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on May 16, 2026. (Photos Hannah Foslien/MLB)
During the Nationals’ game against the Orioles on Sunday, three people unfurled the banner on a section of the upper deck along the first base line at Nationals Park, promoting the white nationalist website and calling for the expulsion of “over 100 million.”
Attendees reportedly resisted removing the banner after a bailiff attempted to confiscate it before leaving the stadium, according to a team spokesperson.
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Jake Lang, a conservative influencer and among those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, took credit for the banner on his social media.
The unfurling of the banner took place during the Nationals’ usual “Salute to Service” ceremony, where they honor a veteran of military service before the start of the fourth inning.
Nationals Park guidelines state that “signs, banners and fan activities” should not “distract from the enjoyment of sports games or other forms of entertainment.” Furthermore, the stadium “is not a forum or place intended for the general public to assemble and express themselves, to be used by certain speakers or to discuss certain topics.”
The Washington Nationals logo is displayed at Nationals Park before the game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets in Washington, DC on May 13, 2023. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
There is also a restriction on the size and material of the objects, which determines how the banner is entered into the stadium in the first place.
It is currently unclear how the banner managed to get past stadium security, according to The Athletic.
Signs and banners must also follow Major League Baseball guidelines and the Nationals Guest Conduct Policy. The policies prohibit any “derogatory questions relating to race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, age, personal appearance, family status, family responsibilities, registration, political affiliation, source of income, victimization status.” domestic offense, place of residence or business or any other category protected by DC law. »
A New Era Washington Nationals baseball cap is seen during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 16, 2026. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
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The Nationals lost to the Orioles, 7-3, on Sunday. They fell to 23-24 on the season, while the Orioles improved to 21-26.
