Christian Pulisic, the US men’s national team captain and AC Milan forward, ignited a firestorm of discussion after celebrating a goal against Jamaica with a dance move popularized by former US President Donald Trump. The incident, which occurred during a Concacaf Nations League quarter-final match, has drawn both criticism and support, highlighting the intersection of sports, politics, and public expression.
Pulisic scored the opening goal in the match held in St Louis, Missouri, a crucial game that the USA ultimately won 4-2. Immediately after netting the goal, Pulisic broke into the recognizable “Trump dance,” a distinctive double-fist pump and shimmy often seen at Trump’s rallies. Teammates Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi joined in the celebration, amplifying the visual impact of the gesture.
Christian Pulisic celebrates goal with Trump dance against Jamaica, Concacaf Nations League match.
In a post-match interview, Pulisic addressed the celebration, downplaying any political motivation. “Well obviously that’s the Trump dance,” he acknowledged. “It was just a dance that everyone’s doing. He’s the one who created it. I just thought it was funny. I saw everyone doing it yesterday in the NFL, I saw Jon Jones do it. We’re just having a bit of fun, so I thought it was a pretty fun dance.” He explicitly denied any endorsement of Trump, stating, “No, not at all. It’s not a political dance. It was just for fun.”
However, not everyone accepted Pulisic’s explanation. Former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard, a veteran of 121 international appearances, publicly criticized Pulisic in his Mail Online column. Howard argued that while Pulisic has the right to express himself, mimicking Trump’s dance was “stupid.” Howard elaborated, “Doing a dance that mimics Donald Trump is stupid. Why? Because, whether it’s the president of the United States or my neighbor down the street, I would never back someone who I believe is racist. I wouldn’t glorify that. I wouldn’t do it for anything.”
Howard further challenged Pulisic’s stance, suggesting that if the dance was indeed a political statement, Pulisic should “own” it rather than dismissing it as mere fun. “If someone feels strongly the other way, no problem. But if you’re going to make a political statement then be bold and brash enough to stand behind it. Don’t go quiet and don’t plead innocence like Christian Pulisic,” Howard wrote.
The “Trump dance” has recently gained traction in the NFL and wider sports world. Prior to Pulisic’s celebration, several NFL players, including Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders, Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine of the Tennessee Titans, and Za’Darius Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez of the Detroit Lions, had performed the dance after touchdowns or plays. UFC fighter Jon Jones also famously performed the dance after a victory at Madison Square Garden, even presenting his heavyweight title belt to Trump who was in attendance.
Donald Trump himself frequently utilizes the dance at his rallies, often as a concluding move to campaign events. Accompanied by anthemic songs like the Village People’s “YMCA,” the dance has become a signature part of his public persona.
Pulisic’s goal and subsequent celebration occurred during a game where the USMNT secured their place in the Concacaf Nations League semi-finals. They advanced after a 1-0 victory against Jamaica in the first leg, with Pulisic’s contribution in the second leg proving decisive. Beyond his goal, Pulisic was instrumental in another goal, forcing an error that led to an own goal. Ricardo Pepi and Timothy Weah also scored for the USA, while Demarai Gray scored twice for Jamaica.
The controversy surrounding Pulisic’s “Trump dance” underscores the increasing entanglement of sports and political discourse. While Pulisic insists his actions were apolitical and simply “fun,” the public and figures like Tim Howard are scrutinizing such displays, especially when they involve figures as polarizing as Donald Trump. The incident raises questions about the responsibility of athletes in the public eye and the potential political interpretations of seemingly lighthearted actions.
