Fresh off his second presidential election win, President-elect Donald Trump is popular in sports. Professional athletes in the NFL, soccer and mixed martial arts have shown their support for the incoming president by doing the “Trump dance,” a viral trend inspired by his recent rallies. However, the move raises questions about whether it highlights a double standard in sports.
When did the viral “Trump dance” start?
Several athletes showcased the phenomenon over the weekend after scoring major plays and wins in their respective sports. It all began with San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, who broke out the dance moves after a sack in the team’s win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
When asked about the inspiration behind his on-field celebration, the 27-year-old offered few details, noting that his teammates encouraged him.
“I think you know the answer to that question,” Bosa said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. “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.”
The dance moves come weeks after Bosa was hit with a $11,255 fine by the NFL for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat after crashing his teammates’ postgame interview, CNN reported. The NFL’s policy prohibits athletes from wearing clothing featuring political statements.
Viral dance moves could create challenges for athletes ahead
On Saturday, mixed martial artist and heavyweight champion Jon Jones showed off the dance moves before shaking hands with Trump and allowing him to hold his title belt as he stood ringside with Elon Musk.
The “Trump dance” swept through the sports world over the weekend, with many athletes joining the trend after seeing their peers perform the moves. U.S. men’s soccer national team captain Christian Pulisic is the latest athlete to do the viral dance after his opening goal during the team’s 4-2 victory over Jamaica during Monday night’s CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal. The 26-year-old insisted it was not a political statement.
“I saw everyone doing it yesterday in the NFL, I saw Jon Jones do it,” Pulisic said, according to The Athletic. “We’re just having a bit of fun. I thought it was a pretty fun dance.”
Forbes reported that Pulisic’s dance moves may lead to some questions about politics during Trump’s forthcoming second term. Several of his teammates have mixed statuses in the United States, which the president-elect plans to change when he takes office.
Does Trump’s re-election spark double standards in sports?
For years, athletes have taken political stances during games, drawing scrutiny from fans, political parties and the media. From Colin Kaepernick taking a knee to other Black athletes like LeBron James using clothing and interviews to highlight police brutality against Black Americans, a double standard seems to emerge when it comes to supporting specific political causes.
Conservative columnist and CNN regular Scott Jennings supports athletes who showcase their political views.
“Why shouldn’t they? Trump is back, America is back and once again, it’s cool to be Republican again,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fox News contributor Jessica Tarlov pointed out the double standards for athletes and politics.
“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,” Tarlov remarked.
Jessica: 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 pic.twitter.com/dUoxHRqbkK
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 18, 2024
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