Session gift supporting entrepreneur with Down syndrome was returned shredded to Meg Weinberger

They were meant as a gesture of goodwill and a celebration of inclusion and creativity: a pair of bright, colorful socks designed by a young man with Down syndrome named Sammy Loudon, along with a card about him and his online store.

Palm Beach Gardens Republican Rep. Meg Weinberger — whose nickname, “MAGA Meg,” is on the socks — gave them as an end-of-Session gift to her House colleagues, Senators across the rotunda, their staff and others in the Capitol who wanted them.

One of the recipients then shredded the socks with scissors, along with the card, and sent them back to Weinberger’s office.

“They chopped them up, including the little info sheet with Sammy’s picture and his story, put it back in the bag and put it on my legislative assistant’s desk,” she told Florida Politics shortly after posting about it on X.

Weinberger said her office has notified Capitol law enforcement, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) may look into the issue, as it was “quite aggressive.”

While she didn’t see who delivered the vandalized gift, she added, one legislative aide in the House did.

“It was an intern,” she said. “I think FDLE will be looking into it, reviewing cameras.”

It’s not yet known what motivated the person who destroyed and returned the gift. Perhaps it was the overt support that Weinberger — the District Lead for the Palm Beach County chapter of Moms for Liberty — has given President Donald Trump, who endorsed her 2024 campaign and whose name will soon be on Palm Beach International Airport through legislation she sponsored this year.

The card accompanying the socks has “Make America Great Always” written at the top — a twist on the acronym for Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again” — and refers to Weinberger’s “MAGA Meg” moniker.

Perhaps less likely, it could be disapproval of Loudon’s father, former Republican state Sen. John Loudon of Missouri. John Loudon, among other things, perpetuated the false claim that former President Barack Obama was a Kenyan-born Muslim, accused Muslims of violence and complicity in extremism, mocked women and the #MeToo movement, and used derogatory language toward Democrats and political opponents.

People reacting online to Weinberger’s post were quick to point fingers.

“Sadly this is exactly what the (Florida Democrats) have become,” Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power wrote.

Bill Helmich, Executive Director of the Republican Party, added, “That a member of the legislature (and we can all guess what party they are) would do this is disgusting. But we really don’t expect much better from them.”

Weinberger said the gifts were meant to unite, not divide.

“It’s just all about inclusion and supporting somebody. We are all here to make our state great, so why wouldn’t we want to make America great, always?” she said. “It shouldn’t be a trigger.”

The gifts also carry personal meaning for Weinberger. John Loudon and his wife, Gina, adopted Sammy. Weinberger’s adopted sister has Down syndrome, too.

“I thought it was a great way to support somebody that I heard about who has special needs and a new business,” she said.

And overwhelmingly, the gifts were a hit.

“Across the aisle, I had so many people say, ‘Oh my gosh, those are actually so cute. What a great idea.’ Somebody from across the aisle also wrote me a note that was so nice, just supporting Sammy and his business,” she said. “Another member asked if she could get his information, because she wants to make them her Session gift next year.”