A federal appeals court has ruled that a Michigan school district did not violate students’ free-speech rights when it banned “Let’s Go Brandon” shirts.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 decision on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, siding with the district. The court found that the phrase, which took off among critics of President Joe Biden, is a vulgar euphemism and therefore not protected classroom speech under the First Amendment.
“In the schoolhouse, vulgarity trumps politics,” the majority wrote. “Protection for political speech doesn’t give a student carte blanche to use vulgarity at school, even when cloaked in innuendo.”
The ruling noted that students were still allowed to wear political shirts supporting former President Donald Trump, such as “Make America Great Again.” Officials said the restriction targeted vulgarity, not viewpoint.
Judge John Bush dissented, saying the wrong standard was applied. He argued “Let’s Go Brandon” is political criticism, not profanity.
The decision effectively gives schools in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee legal support to restrict slogans viewed as vulgar, even when tied to politics.
