Clenching Both Fists and Swaying... Sports Stars Also Hooked on the 'Trump Dance'

US Sports Stars Celebrate with Trump Dance Ceremony
Clenching Fists and Moving Bodies to Celebrate
Trump, Elected President, Danced for 30 Minutes During Campaign

Among American sports stars, the so-called 'Trump dance,' where they clench their fists and shake their bodies back and forth, is becoming popular. Analysts suggest this reflects ongoing public support for President-elect Donald Trump. On the 18th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that "five NFL players, including Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders, celebrated scoring by performing Trump’s dance during the previous day's game."

Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders is scoring a touchdown in the game held at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Earlier, UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones showcased the Trump dance after successfully defending his title against Stipe Miocic on the 16th. At that time, President-elect Trump was at Madison Square Garden in New York, where the UFC event took place, along with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and others, and he smiled upon seeing Jones imitate him. There was also a moment where Jones handed the UFC championship belt to President-elect Trump. After the game, Bowers mentioned Jones in an interview, saying, "I thought that (the Trump dance) was cool."

Former President Donald Trump is seen performing his signature dance moves on stage during a rally held on August 21 (local time) in Asheboro, North Carolina. Photo by Yonhap News

The Trump dance is characterized by keeping the upper body stiff while crossing and extending both arms. During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last month, when an emergency occurred with attendees collapsing, President-elect Trump suggested, "Let's stop the Q&A and listen to music," and for about 30 minutes, he sang along and moved to nine campaign songs, including Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” and Rufus Wainwright’s “Hallelujah.”

The Trump dance was initially seen more as a clumsy movement than an actual dance, often becoming a subject of ridicule. However, now that he is President-elect, the dance is spreading among sports stars who support him, drawing attention.

The NYT described, “It is far from the complexity of Michael Jackson’s iconic ‘Moonwalk’ or the Macarena dance that swept the world in the mid-1990s. His simple yet oddly captivating dance resembles the stiff movements of rhythmless wedding guests or awkwardly intoxicated event attendees. The bent arms and clenched fists evoke a homage to the drunken character in the movie ‘Old School.’”