Mother Jones
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Athletes Have Embraced the Soft Power of a Trump Dance
Posted
November 28, 2024
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5,672
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November 28, 2024
5,672
246
60
5.39%
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Athletes are embracing the soft power of the Trump dance—solidifying him as a global right-wing figure.
When Christian Pulisic, the US men’s national soccer team star, scored against Jamaica, he promptly jogged to the corner flag. After a jumping fist pump, the red, white, and blue bedecked central midfielder did what’s become known as the “Trump Dance,” laughing as he wiggled his arms and hips.
In a post-game interview, Pulisic—a multi-millionaire who is a registered Republican—was questioned about his celebration and disavowed that it carried any deeper meaning: “It’s not a political dance. It was just for fun.”
No matter what Pulisic intended, there’s no denying he’s part of a larger wave of athletes, from the NFL to the collegiate level, who in the wake of Trump’s 2024 win have been imitating the president-elect’s dance, which he is known to perform along to “YMCA.”
Fox News liberal commentator Jessica Tarlov identified a hypocrisy in contrast to the national stick-to-sports outrages that followed political statements by stars like Colin Kaepernick and LeBron James: “I guess we’ve gotten to the portion of the Trump era where we have moved past shut up and dribble, and now it is fantastic for athletes to talk about their politics.”
Undoubtedly, some athletes are doing the dance as a show of support for Trump and his agenda. Take San Francisco 49ers pass-rusher Nick Bosa, who wore a “Make America Great Again” hat a week before the election during a post-game appearance. He was eventually docked $11,255 for breaking rules barring displaying written messages on the field. However, as the Wall Street Journal reported, the NFL delayed the fine until after Election Day to avoid controversy or retribution from Trump. The following Sunday, Bosa did Trump’s dance in celebration of a sack; a video went viral after being shared by Sean Hannity on social media.
As Trump’s win reverberates in American culture and across the world, his reelection has confirmed his status as a global right-wing figure. In that sense, symbols associated with him will always speak to shifts in power and policy. When they crop up in sports it’s hard to argue they are "just for fun."
#Sports #ChristianPulisic #NickBosa #MensSoccer #Football
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