Crows trained to target red MAGA hats in unusual protest experiment against Trump

WASHINGTON, DC:  A man has gone viral online for staging an unconventional protest using birds. Through months of patient training, he claims to have taught local crows to swoop down on people wearing red MAGA (Make America Great Again) hats, a symbol closely associated with President Donald Trump.

The unusual experiment, documented through social media posts, began as a personal curiosity about animal behavior. Over time, however, its creator says the project evolved into a deliberate political statement that he now describes as a form of “absurd resistance.”

Crows trained to target red MAGA hats in viral experiment

Dave, a Threads user known online as “biz_dave,” shared a detailed, months-long account of how he gradually trained a group of crows to recognize and target red hats. The process started with establishing a consistent feeding location to earn the birds’ trust.

“This project has been going on for a little while,” Dave said while posting regular updates. He explained that the first stage required months of consistency before the birds reliably returned to the same spot.

Using peanuts and other food scraps as incentives, Dave slowly introduced red hats into the routine. Over time, he says the crows began associating the hats with food rewards and eventually learned to swoop down and grab them.

“The crows will eat lots of things, but I recommend sticking to peanuts, chicken scraps, mealworms, and dog kibble,” he wrote in one post aimed at followers curious about the process. 

According to Dave, gaining the birds’ trust took the longest. “Getting the crows to come regularly to the feeding place took the longest. That was about a four-month endeavor,” he said. “Once they were coming regularly, it was only about three months to get them to the hat removal stage.”

Videos shared online show crows flying down within minutes of a red hat appearing, prompting both fascination and debate across social media platforms.

Viral crow project sparks debate over safety and intent

As the experiment gained traction, some viewers raised concerns about the safety of the birds and the people involved. Dave acknowledged the criticism but downplayed the likelihood of serious harm.

“I see that as more of a possibility than a probability,” he wrote. “I appreciate your confidence in my ability to start a revolution, but I do not share it.”

Trump has frequently worn the red MAGA hat in public appearances, from campaign rallies to golf outings, making it one of the most recognizable political symbols in the US. That visibility, Dave suggested, made it an obvious target for his experiment.

Dave explains why centrism was 'no longer enough'

Dave said the project ultimately reflected a shift in his own political thinking. “I tried to be centrist for a long time, but I no longer believe that is a moral option,” he said.

Rather than engage in traditional protests, he chose to combine humor, animal behavior, and symbolism to make his point. As updates from the project spread, the crow experiment quickly became a viral example of unconventional political expression.