Home Depot has banned a worker from wearing a hat emblazoned with the words 'America was never great' after legions of Donald Trump supporters complained.

Krystal Lake, 22, wore a white cap carrying the slogan to work at a Home Depot store in Staten Island, New York, this week.

A picture of her wearing the hat went viral and split Twitter and Facebook, with some calling her unpatriotic but others defending her right to free speech.

Miss Lake says she has received a barrage of racist abuse and death threats, but insists she will not stop wearing the cap.

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Home Depot has banned worker Krystal Lake from wearing a hat emblazoned with the words 'America was never great' after legions of Donald Trump supporters complained

Miss Lake, 22, wore a white cap carrying the slogan to work at a Home Depot store in Staten Island, New York, this week

The Home Depot worker and City University of New York student told the Staten Island Advance that she took inspiration from Trump's signature 'Make America Great Again' hats.

'I feel [the 'America was never great' hat] offended a lot of people because a lot of Trump supporters live in Staten Island,' she said.

'Trump is very rash and in your face, but when someone else has a message against him, his supporters can't take the criticisms.'

Miss Lake, who is a Bernie Sanders supporter, added that her message is not unpatriotic but that she wants the U.S. to improve.

'People have been saying really racist things to me and that they're going to come and find me, and that what I said is disgraceful and I hate America - but I don't hate America.

'I know there are a lot of opportunities here. I just wish we would worry about making America better - not "great again".

Miss Lake wore the controversial hat at this Home Depot store in Staten Island and has since been reminded of company policy

Miss Lake, who is a Bernie Sanders supporter, added that her message is not unpatriotic but that she wants the U.S. to improve

'The point of the hat was to say America needs changing and improvement. I don't think it's a positive message to say, "Let's look to the past".'

Miss Lake said she has only worn the hat to work once - when she was pictured - but 'definitely' intends to do so again.

However, her bosses might have something to say about that. Home Depot branded the cap 'inappropriate' and said she would not be allowed to wear it at work in future.

A spokesman for the hardware store told Daily Mail Online that no managers saw her wearing the hat and that they would have taken action if they had.

'The cap certainly doesn’t represent the opinion of the company, and regardless of the message, our associates are not supposed to wear items with political statements,' he said.

Home Depot took action after scores of people complained and the Bikers 4 Trump group called for its members to boycott the store

Daily Mail Online understands that Miss Lake has not worked a shift at the store since the incident but was not punished.

Home Depot said she was reminded of company policy.

'If an associate refuses to follow our policies – any policies – it can lead to termination,' the Home Depot spokesman added.

Miss Lake says she has seen colleagues wearing Trump pins on their uniforms and claims they have not been told they cannot wear them.

Home Depot took action after scores of people complained and the Bikers 4 Trump group called for its members to boycott the store.

One Twitter user, using the handle District of Criminals, called Miss Lake's hat 'an insult to vets and all Americans'.

'I wonder if Home Depot considers the YUGE % of their customers who are patriots, vets, family of vets & military,' she tweeted.

Tim Young wrote: Dear @HomeDepot employee wearing this hat. If it was "never great," then why haven't you moved yet? Sincerely, Tim.'

Alex Barker tweeted: '@HomeDepot for the veterans that fight and give their lives for this country. I'm disappointed at Home Depot. My business is going elsewhere.'

Kathryn Lucas added: 'If you're one of those people who say America never was great you're also commie scum & should probably just move to North Korea.'

Dozens of people sent their support to Miss Lake, with some even asking where they could buy the hat

Miss Lake defended herself on Twitter after scores of people tweeted her, saying she was unpatriotic

However, dozens of people sent their support to Miss Lake, with some even asking where they could buy the hat.

One Twitter user posted: 'Sooo, where can I purchase that "america was never great" hat?'

Wonder Womanist tweeted: 'US: still has segregated schools US: cuts education and welfare $ US: bombs its own cities "America was never great" Yall: OMG HOW DARE YOU.'

Miss Lake defended herself on Twitter, saying no one who was complaining had been able to tell her when America was great.

Home Depot financially backed a number of Republican candidates in the 2006 midterm elections and donated the maximum $250,000 towards President George W. Bush's second inauguration.



