​A variety of sports stars have performed moves reminiscent of Trump’s recognizable routine. In a World Cup last-16 match, the Belgium team appeared to mimic US President Donald Trump by executing some of his signature dance steps after their fourth goal against the United States. The moment came amid pre-match controversy after Trump intervened to overturn the red-card suspension of star US striker Folarin Balogun before the game.
This isn’t the first time athletes have used Trump’s moves as a response while the world watches in recent years. The former president’s hip-sway, fist-pump, and occasional golf-swing celebrations have gained traction following his election victory over Kamala Harris. Across a range of sports, American athletes embraced the dance in the weeks after the election, extending even into the English Football League. Trump eventually saw the celebration firsthand when Jon Jones retained his heavyweight title at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
But what’s behind it? A few days after Trump’s electoral win, American football player Nick Bosa performed the dance on the pitch with his San Francisco 49ers teammates. Bosa had previously been fined by the NFL for wearing a pro-Trump hat during a TV interview after a game. Since then, his celebration has been copied by other NFL players, including Brock Bowers, Calvin Ridley, and Za’Darius Smith, as well as by players in college football. Christian Pulisic, the US footballer, joined in after scoring in a Concacaf Nations League match, and the dance has indeed gone global.
British golfer Charley Hull was seen performing it while competing on the LPGA Tour, and Barnsley’s players did the same after scoring against Cambridge United. Trump’s moves have been imitated by sports stars around the world, both as a tribute and, in some cases, for less favorable reasons.
In many instances, it’s difficult to know the exact motivation—some athletes may simply be riding a TikTok trend. Yet some have hinted at their intentions. After beating Stipe Miocic, Jon Jones said on video, “I want to say a big, big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here. What do you guys think about my version of the Donald Trump?” Trump later reposted a clip of the interaction on his Truth Social account.
Christian Pulisic, however, stressed that he wasn’t engaging in a political statement after his goal helped secure a 4-2 victory over Jamaica. “I saw everyone doing it in the NFL, I saw Jon Jones do it, and we were just having a bit of fun,” he explained. “Obviously, that’s the ‘Trump Dance,’ but it was just a dance that everyone was doing.” Meanwhile, the NFL has indicated it will not crack down on the dance, which it does not view as a political statement. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Front Office Sports that there is no issue with the celebration.