The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear an appeal from two Michigan middle school students challenging their school's ban on sweatshirts featuring the slogan "Let’s Go Brandon." The phrase, which is widely understood as a veiled vulgarity directed at President Joe Biden, was deemed inappropriate for the school setting. By refusing to take up the case, the Court allowed a lower court ruling to remain in effect.

The decision maintains an October 2025 judgment by the Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the school’s authority to prohibit the sweatshirts on the grounds that the slogan constituted vulgar speech. The Sixth Circuit ruling was issued in a 2-1 vote and found that school administrators acted reasonably in restricting the phrase as it could be interpreted as offensive.

The origin of the "Let’s Go Brandon" slogan traces back to October 2021 during a NASCAR event. NBC reporter Kelli Stavast misheard a profane chant from the crowd at the Xfinity Series Sparks 300 race, interpreting it as support for driver Brandon Brown. The phrase quickly gained traction as a euphemism for the explicit anti-Biden chant.

The Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for declining to hear the case, effectively endorsing the lower court’s view that schools have discretion to regulate speech deemed vulgar or disruptive. The ruling underscores the ongoing debate over free speech rights within public school environments and the limits placed on student expression when it conflicts with educational standards.