Trump’s signature dance is now a global phenomenon as athletes adopt the move in droves
The com-dancer-in-chief’s moves are catching on.
President-elect Donald Trump has been known to cut a rug on the campaign trail — and now his signature moves are being borrowed as a celebratory dance by athletes on the football field, the soccer pitch and even in the mixed martial arts octagon.
Trump attended Saturday’s UFC 309 fight at Madison Square Garden, receiving a hero’s welcome as he entered the arena from backstage like a heavyweight fighter to thunderous applause, flanked by members of his entourage including UFC CEO Dana White, Elon Musk and RFK Jr.
After Jon Jones dispatched opponent Stipe Miocic by knockout, the fighter almost immediately punctuated his triumph by breaking into Trump’s hip-swaying, fist-pumping dance before approaching the president-elect from the ring and presenting him with his UFC Heavyweight Championship belt.
Football players, both pro and collegiate, have also adopted the distinctive dance moves since the election, creating instantly viral moments being shared millions of times on social media.
In the NFL, the trend is thought to have originated with the San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa, who started hoofing it, Trump-style, alongside teammates Leonard Floyd, Sam Okuayinonu and Fred Warner after a sack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nov. 10.
A video showing the celebration posted on X garnered nearly 3 million views — and got Bosa a nod on Trump’s social media network Truth Social from the president-elect himself.
“All the guys wanted me to do it. I wasn’t even going to do it, but the boys reminded me. And it was fun,” Bosa told the San Francisco Chronicle when asked about the familiar moves after the game.
As for his inspiration for the steps?
“I think you know the answer to that question,” he demurred.
Since then the Trump dance has spread like wildfire throughout the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders rookie Brock Bowers broke it out after a touchdown, and Detroit Lions defenders Malcolm Rodriguez and Za’Darius Smith strutted their stuff after a big stop.
The dance might even be more popular among college football players, making recent appearances at games everywhere from Drake University to Northern Illinois University to East Carolina, with new sightings cropping up online seemingly every day.
Not to be outdone, Trump fans across the Atlantic are also tripping the light fantastic in the style of the soon-to-be 47th president, with a recent video on X showing Barnsley players doing the dance in unison after scoring a goal against Cambridge United.
