Rep. Maxwell Frost from Florida reported being racially assaulted and punched in the face while attending the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Friday night.
The first Gen Z congressman stated that a drunken individual attacked him during a private event, making derogatory remarks about his and his friend’s ethnicity.
Frost mentioned, “Last night at Sundance, I was assaulted by a man who punched me in the face after telling me that President Trump was going to deport me. He could be heard yelling racist slurs as he fled drunk.” He shared this on X late Saturday.
He noted that the perpetrator was arrested and expressed gratitude towards the venue’s security and Park City police for their help during the situation.
Details indicate that Frost, 29, encountered Christian Joel Young, 28, at an invite-only party hosted by CAA at High West Distillery in Park City. Reports claim Young confronted Frost and his friend before initiating the attack.
“I’m going to deport you and your people,” Young allegedly said while approaching Frost. As Frost and his friend tried to push him away, Young yelled racial slurs, punched a deputy in the face, and then fled from the scene.
Young is believed to have used an administrative access pass that was not issued in his name, possibly gaining entry by jumping a fence. He faces charges of assault, aggravated robbery, and assault on an elected official, with authorities looking into potential hate crime enhancements.
Interestingly, Young reportedly claimed to police that he didn’t recall what had occurred during the incident.
The House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, expressed his outrage regarding the attack. He said, “I am horrified by the attack on Congressman Maxwell Frost. While we are relieved he is safe, we are appalled that this horrific assault occurred. The perpetrators must be aggressively prosecuted. Hatred and political violence have no place in our country. The entire House Democratic Caucus stands with Mr. Maxwell.”
Sundance Film Festival officials condemned the attack at a non-festival event. They emphasized that such behavior contradicts their commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all participants.
Frost, who is known for his critical stance against Republican leadership since his election in 2022, has labeled President Trump a “fraud” and called out other political figures for their actions.
His activism continued to shine through when he criticized Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis during a Paramore concert, asserting, “Fuck you, Ron DeSantis! Fuck fascism and lead with love!”
