As trends come and go, athletes are now jumping on the latest craze: the “Trump dance.” But mark my words, this will be a decision they come to regret. What seems like a fun celebration today could lead to serious cringe in the future.
Let’s be real—mimicking Donald Trump’s awkward dance moves looks ridiculous. Picture jerking your arms and swaying your hips like a clumsy robot. But the real issue isn’t just the dance itself; it’s what these celebrations represent and the normalization of a controversial figure.
Take Christian Pulisic, for example. After scoring a goal for the U.S. men’s national team, he celebrated with the dance, claiming it was just for fun. “It’s not a political dance,” he insisted. But how can you separate the dance from the man who inspired it?
The reality is that many athletes may not fully grasp the implications of their actions. They might think they’re just joining in on a trend, but they’re inadvertently endorsing a figure whose policies have real-world consequences—like deportations and economic turmoil.
Trump’s appeal to young male voters, particularly white men, has been significant. Many of these athletes may not realize they’re glorifying someone who stands for divisive and harmful ideologies. They see a funny guy who’s “buds” with their favorite podcasters, not the serious threats he poses to marginalized communities.
Imagine how Calvin Ridley will feel if he sees families torn apart due to deportations, or how Pulisic might react if his teammate’s citizenship is questioned because of Trump’s policies. The disconnect between their celebratory dance and the harsh realities of Trump’s actions is alarming.
Thomas Oates, an American studies professor, points out that the lines between pop culture and politics are blurred. The fact that Trump is president-elect shows that athletes and fans need to recognize how their actions can have broader implications.
In the end, athletes need to think critically about what they’re celebrating. The “Trump dance” may seem harmless now, but as history unfolds, they might find themselves regretting their role in normalizing a figure who has caused so much division. It’s time to reconsider what it means to celebrate in today’s political climate.
