U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat, said he was punched in the face and subjected to racist remarks by an intruder at a private Sundance Film Festival event in Park City, Utah. Police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Christian Joel Young and said he was arrested and booked on charges including aggravated burglary and assault.
Late Friday night during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said he was assaulted at an invitation-only party hosted by the talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) at High West Distillery.
Frost wrote on X on Saturday, January 24, 2026, that a man told him that President Donald Trump was “going to deport” him before punching him in the face. Frost added that the man was “heard screaming racist remarks as he drunkenly ran off,” and said he was not seriously injured. Frost thanked venue security and the Park City Police Department for their response.
Park City police identified the suspect as Christian Joel Young, 28. According to an arrest report summarized by local station FOX 13 (KSTU), Young was initially denied entry because he was not invited, then later got into the venue with an administrative Sundance pass that was not in his name. Security staff reported seeing him jump a fence, leave after being confronted, and then apparently re-enter.
Once inside, witnesses told police that Young made racially charged comments, including telling Frost and a companion, “we are going to deport you and your kind,” before using a racial slur and striking Frost, the FOX 13 report said. A woman who was also assaulted told police that Young pushed her against a bar and shouted, “You are the kind we are going to deport,” according to the same report.
Young was booked into jail on suspicion of aggravated burglary, assault, and assaulting an elected official, FOX 13 reported, adding that police indicated the assault allegations would be screened for a hate-crime sentencing enhancement.
The incident quickly drew attention online, including skeptical reactions in some social media replies, while multiple news outlets reported the arrest and cited police accounts and Frost’s statement.
