A restaurant manager in Canada has been sacked after refusing to serve a man wearing a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat.

Darin Hodge, who was manager of Vancouver’s Stanley Park Teahouse restaurant, said he had “absolutely no regrets” over Tuesday’s incident, which saw him lose his job two days later.

The row erupted after he asked the unnamed customer to remove his MAGA baseball cap, which has become a prominent political symbol of Donald Trump’s US presidency.

For many critics of Mr Trump, the red hat has come to represent nationalism, racism and the perceived authoritarianism of his administration.

After the man refused, reportedly saying he had a right to wear the cap, he was told he would not be served, and subsequently left the restaurant.

Donald Trump calls the 'fake news' the 'enemy of the American people'

“I stand by my decision to ask the patron to remove his hat,” Mr Hodge told Global News. “The MAGA hat has come to symbolise racism, bigotry, islamophobia, misogyny, white supremacy, homophobia.

“As a person with a strong moral backbone, I had to take a stand against this guest’s choice of headwear while in my former place of work. Absolutely no regrets.”

But the Sequoia Group of Restaurants, which owns the Teahouse, said Mr Hodge’s refusal of service amounted to a violation of the company’s “philosophy of tolerance”.

Trump South Carolina rally Show all 5 1 /5 Trump South Carolina rally Trump South Carolina rally President Donald Trump, in town to support Gov. Henry McMaster, speaks to the crowd at Airport High School, Monday, June 25, 2018, in West Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro) Richard Shiro AP Trump South Carolina rally President Donald Trump gestures during a rally at Airport High School in West Columbia, S.C., Monday, June 25, 2018, for Republican Gov. Henry McMaster. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Susan Walsh AP Trump South Carolina rally President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Airport High School in West Columbia, S.C., Monday, June 25, 2018, for Republican Gov. Henry McMaster. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Susan Walsh AP Trump South Carolina rally WEST COLUMBIA, SC - JUNE 25: President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally for South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster at Airport High School on June 25, 2018 in West Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Sean Rayford Getty Images Trump South Carolina rally WEST COLUMBIA, SC - JUNE 25: President Donald Trump speaks to the crowd during a campaign rally for South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster at Airport High School June 25, 2018 in West Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Sean Rayford Getty Images

“Sequoia does not support intolerance of any kind, and it is because of these principles that we cannot discriminate against someone based on their support for the current administration in the United States or any other bona fide political party,” a spokesperson said in a statement.