On Sunday, NFL players showcased their excitement for big plays by performing dance moves that echoed President-elect Trump’s signature style. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley, and Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith all joined Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers in using Trump-inspired dances as their celebratory gestures after plays.
Bowers, after scoring a 23-yard touchdown, broke into a dance that mimicked Trump’s signature arm and hip movements. He later told USA Today that the dance was something he’d seen others perform. “I watched the UFC fight [Saturday] night, and Jon Jones did it. I like watching UFC, so I saw it, and thought it was cool,” Bowers shared.
Interestingly, the Raiders omitted Bowers’ postgame interview from their public video clips, and his comment about the Trump dance was absent from the team’s official transcripts, as noted by the Associated Press.
Jon Jones celebrated his win over Stipe Miocic on Saturday with the same dance move, directing his gestures toward Trump, who was in attendance alongside tech mogul Elon Musk.
Ridley followed suit in his celebration on Sunday, and Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez performed the dance after a sack against Jacksonville. Earlier this season, Bosa faced a fine of over $11,000 from the NFL for wearing a MAGA hat during a postgame interview, which the league deemed a violation of its policies on political expressions.
Bosa brushed off the fine and later celebrated another sack with the same Trump dance. The dance, which has become a popular trend among college players in recent weeks, is rapidly spreading across various sports, as highlighted by the AP.