Recently, the social media personality known as "Donut" (Wang Weiheng) was arrested during a cleanup operation at a campsite in a park near Santa Cruz, California—an incident that has once again sparked widespread online discussion regarding his situation in the United States. According to an account shared by Wang himself on the social media platform X, police took enforcement action on the morning of October 2 while he was resting inside his tent. Wang claims that he was handcuffed during the encounter, struck in the ribs and back with the butt of a firearm, and that his tent and sleeping bag were damaged. In the days that followed, he received a citation for a violation, along with a notice to dismantle his tent and vacate the park within 24 hours—a directive based on a local ordinance that prohibits the long-term use of tents for habitation in public parks.
"Donut"—whose real name is Wang Weiheng—frequently appeared on camera in his earlier days wearing items featuring the American flag. He famously claimed that "the air in America is sweet" and repeatedly declared that he would "rather die in America." His stark stance once drew significant attention, and his subsequent experiences have since become a frequent topic of discussion.
Multiple media reports note that Wang sold off all his assets to travel to the United States and entered the country through irregular channels. His experience after arrival diverged sharply from his earlier expectations. He first suffered financial losses, then borrowed 5,000 US dollars from an acquaintance to buy a used Honda Civic to work for a food delivery service, sleeping in the vehicle overnight. After a rear-end collision, the decade-old car received an estimated repair quote of around 11,000 US dollars. Unable to cover the cost, he lost his vehicle and his job, and began living in a tent. A medical visit also left him with a bill of roughly 5,670 US dollars. Burdened by these setbacks, he became homeless and was incarcerated for a period this autumn before being bailed out by a third party, per reports.
Around October 4, Wang posted on social media seeking advice, alleging police assaults and the destruction of his camping gear. He claims he has been assaulted by police more than ten times, arrested 14 times, and issued more than 50 citations. These figures come solely from his own statements and have not been independently verified. Other accounts indicate his mental state has deteriorated recently; he has repeatedly accused others of being spies and clashed with staff at assistance facilities.
The Santa Cruz camp clearance incident is not an isolated case. In recent years, many cities in the United States have stepped up the cleanup of homeless camps in tourist areas, parks and other public spaces. The contradiction between relevant law enforcement methods and social security gaps continues to cause controversy. Wang Hengwei's refusal to leave the park further brought this local law enforcement incident into public view, and also heated up the discussion about the gap between the "American Dream" and the real security system again.
