If the recent trend in sports dancing is any indication, Donald Trump and the NFL may have a more harmonious relationship during his anticipated second tenure in the presidency compared to the first.
Numerous NFL athletes have been inspired by college athletes and even soccer players, adopting what is now known as the “Trump dance” to celebrate significant plays.
The dance gained traction when San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa performed it after making a sack in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This celebration was soon echoed by several players in the league during the following week.
After Bosa tackled Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, he danced by swaying his hips and moving his arms in a rhythm reminiscent of Trump’s dance moves during campaign rallies, often accompanied by the song “Y.M.C.A.”
This dance craze was already underway in college football and even reached players from Barnsley, an English soccer club, who celebrated a goal using the same dance. Notably, U.S. men’s soccer standout Christian Pulisic joined in after scoring against Jamaica in a recent match.
The Trump dance gained further popularity in the NFL over the weekend, with players celebrating their respective accomplishments through these moves.
While the reasons behind the players adopting this dance remain unclear, it’s notable that Bosa has openly supported Trump.
During Trump’s initial presidency, tensions arose between him and the league, particularly regarding player protests during the national anthem related to social and racial injustices, a movement sparked by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016.
Ironically, Trump’s dance moves are now inspiring on-field celebrations in a league he previously criticized.
Past weekend, several players, including Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers, Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley, and Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith showcased this celebratory dance.
Just the week before, Bosa was joined by teammates Leonard Floyd, Fred Warner, and Sam Okuayinonu in performing the Trump dance, shortly after he faced an $11,255 fine from the NFL for displaying a pro-Trump message on a cap during a postgame TV appearance.
Bosa later remarked that incurring the fine was worthwhile, despite it violating league uniform regulations regarding personal messaging without consent.
Interestingly, the NFL has not expressed any concern regarding the Trump dance.
“There’s no issue with a celebratory dance such as what took place Sunday or the previous week with the 49ers on November 10,” confirmed NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy.
The NFL’s rulebook and player manual specify conditions under which a celebration could lead to penalties or fines for unsportsmanlike behavior, including excessive celebrations, violent gestures, or inappropriate actions.
In recent years, the league has relaxed its celebration policies, offering guidelines that allow players to express themselves without incurring penalties, as long as their actions do not constitute taunting or disrupt the game.
Potential violations include excessive celebrations, using props, and engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct toward game officials.
Although Trump has yet to comment on the players incorporating his dance, he appeared to enjoy the moment when UFC fighter Jon Jones performed the Trump dance after defeating Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden.
Trump was seen cheering and standing to applaud Jones as he celebrated.
Bowers, who embraced the Trump dance after a touchdown catch, shared that he found inspiration in Jones’s celebration and even pointed to Trump with a thumbs-up.
Ridley also joined in, celebrating alongside teammate Nick Westbrook-Ikhine during the Titans’ game, while Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez performed the dance after a sack during a commanding victory for Detroit over Jacksonville.