A new dance is taking over the sports world, and it seems that Donald Trump and the NFL might be getting along better now than they did during his first term in office.
Several NFL players have started copying a dance from college football, soccer, and mixed martial arts celebrations, and are using it after big plays.
This dance, known as the “Trump dance,” became popular after San Francisco’s Nick Bosa used it to celebrate a sack during the 49ers’ victory over Tampa Bay in Week 10. The dance gained even more attention this past Sunday when at least four other players joined in.
After sacking Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, Bosa moved his hips and swung his arms to the rhythm, mimicking how the 78-year-old president-elect used to dance during his campaign rallies, often to the tune of “Y.M.C.A.”
This dance has been seen in college football for weeks. Players from the English soccer team Barnsley and U.S. men’s soccer star Christian Pulisic also did the Trump dance after scoring goals.
In the NFL, the dance became more popular after several players used it to celebrate sacks or touchdowns over the weekend. It’s unclear exactly why some players have started using this dance, but Bosa, who supports Trump, may be a reason why he started it.
During Trump’s first term, he had conflicts with the NFL, especially over players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial and social injustice. This movement began in 2016 when Colin Kaepernick, then a 49ers quarterback, knelt during the anthem.
Now, Trump’s dance moves are showing up in celebrations across the league. Players like Raiders rookie Brock Bowers, Titans receiver Calvin Ridley, and Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith joined in on the dance last weekend.
A week earlier, Bosa’s teammates Leonard Floyd, Fred Warner, and Sam Okuayinonu also danced after Bosa’s sack. This came right after Bosa had been fined $11,255 by the NFL for wearing a cap with a pro-Trump message while interrupting a postgame interview.
Bosa said the fine was worth it, even though it broke NFL rules against players wearing political statements. However, the NFL doesn’t have an issue with players performing the Trump dance. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed there are no problems with celebratory dances like the one Bosa and others did.
The NFL has loosened its celebration rules over recent years, so players now know what types of celebrations are okay and which could result in fines or penalties. The rules state that celebrations are fine as long as they don’t delay the game, involve violence, or use offensive gestures or props.
Trump hasn’t commented on the NFL players doing the Trump dance, but he seemed happy when UFC fighter Jon Jones performed the dance after defeating Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden. Trump, who was sitting ringside, clapped and cheered for Jones, giving him a standing ovation.
Bowers, who did the dance after catching a touchdown, said he watched the UFC fight and liked it when Jones celebrated with the Trump dance. Ridley performed it during the Titans’ loss to Minnesota, and Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez did it after a sack in the Lions’ big win over Jacksonville.
