It started as a quirky campaign trail shimmy. You know the one—the double-fisted rhythmic pump, feet planted, a bit of a torso sway. But honestly, nobody expected it to become the most talked-about end zone celebration of the decade. Lately, it feels like every time you turn on a game, you're seeing football players doing the trump dance after a sack or a touchdown.
It’s weird. It’s loud. And it’s everywhere.
The "Donald Dance" didn't just happen by accident. It crossed over from political rallies into the hyper-masculine, meme-heavy world of professional sports faster than a blitzing linebacker. From the NFL to the USMNT, and even the UFC, the move has become a shorthand for victory, defiance, or just "having a bit of fun," depending on who you ask.
The Sunday That Changed Everything
If you were watching football in mid-November 2024, you saw the floodgates open. It wasn't just one guy. It was a literal wave.
Nick Bosa, the San Francisco 49ers' star defensive end, is basically the patient zero for this trend in the NFL. He’d already been in the headlines for crashing a post-game interview wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat—which actually cost him a cool $11,255 fine from the league for violating uniform rules. But a week later, after taking down Baker Mayfield, Bosa didn't reach for a hat. He just started dancing.
He was joined by teammates Leonard Floyd, Fred Warner, and Sam Okuayinonu. Seeing a group of elite athletes performing the same awkward, rhythmic shuffle usually reserved for a 78-year-old at a podium was... surreal.
The momentum didn't stop in Santa Clara. That same weekend:
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- Brock Bowers, the Las Vegas Raiders' rookie sensation, broke it out after a 23-yard touchdown.
- Calvin Ridley of the Tennessee Titans did it.
- Za’Darius Smith and the Detroit Lions defense turned it into a group activity.
By the time Monday night rolled around, the "Trump Dance" had officially gone international. Christian Pulisic, the captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team and arguably the most famous American soccer player on the planet, did the dance after scoring against Jamaica.
Why Are They Actually Doing It?
Is it a political manifesto? For some, probably. For others, it’s just the meme of the week.
Brock Bowers told reporters he saw Jon Jones do it at UFC 309—where Donald Trump was actually sitting cageside—and just thought it was "cool." He’d watched the fight the night before and it was stuck in his head. Simple as that. Or at least, that’s the story the Raiders' PR team stuck to before they abruptly ended his press conference when the questions got too political.
Christian Pulisic echoed that sentiment. "It’s not a political dance," he claimed. He’d seen everyone else doing it and thought it was funny.
But let's be real—you can’t mimic the signature move of a sitting president and expect people to ignore the subtext. In a locker room, some guys are definitely making a statement. Others are just riding the viral wave because they know it'll get them on the Sunday night highlights. It's a mix of genuine support and the "for the vibes" culture of modern sports.
The NFL's Surprising "No Call"
Usually, the NFL is the "No Fun League." They fine players for wearing the wrong socks or pointing a finger like a prop. So, people naturally assumed the hammer would come down on the Trump dance.
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Except it didn't.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy cleared it up pretty quickly: the league has no issue with it. As long as a celebration isn't sexually suggestive, doesn't use props, and doesn't go on for five minutes, they don't care. They draw a hard line at clothing—hence Bosa’s fine for the hat—but the movements of a player's body are generally fair game.
It’s a fascinating double standard when you think back to the Colin Kaepernick era. Back then, the league was paralyzed by how to handle political expression on the field. Now, they seem to have realized that trying to police a dance move is a losing battle that only makes them look like the fun police.
The Pushback and the "Stupid" Label
Not everyone is laughing. Former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard didn't hold back, calling Pulisic’s decision to do the dance "stupid" in his Daily Mail column. For Howard, you can't separate the dance from the man, and he argued that as a leader, you have to consider how your actions land with teammates who might feel alienated by the president's policies.
There’s also the "shunned" factor. Inside the U.S. Soccer Federation, some officials were reportedly "disappointed" by Pulisic’s choice. The federation even went so far as to trim the dance out of their social media highlights of the goal. They wanted the points; they didn't want the optics.
2025: The Trend That Refuses to Die
If you thought this was a 2024 election-cycle fad, think again. On November 9, 2025, Donald Trump became the first sitting president since Jimmy Carter to attend a regular-season NFL game. He showed up for the Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions game.
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What happened? Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a touchdown pass and immediately pointed to the box where Trump was sitting before breaking into the dance.
It has become a "Salute to the Chief" for a certain segment of the league. It’s no longer just a trend; it’s a fixture. It has outlasted the Griddy. It has outlasted the Dirty Bird. It’s now part of the NFL’s cultural lexicon.
Real-World Takeaways for Fans
If you're a fan trying to navigate this, here’s what you need to know:
- The Fine Print: Players won't get fined for the dance, but they will get fined for the gear. If your favorite player wants to support a candidate, they have to do it with their feet, not their hats.
- It’s Not Unified: Don’t assume your entire team shares the same politics just because three guys are doing the shuffle in the end zone. Locker rooms are massive, and these celebrations are often just a few buddies having a moment.
- The Broadcast Factor: Networks like CBS, FOX, and ESPN have the right to show—or not show—the dance. If you notice the camera suddenly cuts to a wide shot or a pained-looking commentator, you’re seeing the "editing" in real-time.
Whether you find it hilarious or infuriating, the reality is that the Trump dance has become the unofficial victory lap of the modern athlete. It’s the ultimate crossover of pop culture, politics, and the "look at me" nature of the NFL.
Don't expect it to vanish next season. As long as it keeps getting clicks and keeping players in the news, they're going to keep those arms pumping.
If you're looking to keep track of which players have joined the "Donald Dance" club, keep an eye on the post-sack replays this Sunday—the list is growing faster than the league's fine list.