Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the newly appointed “First Buddy,” celebrated Thanksgiving together at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, with a dance to the Village People’s classic hit, YMCA. The unexpected dance video quickly went viral, particularly due to the contrasting dance styles of the two figures and the seemingly awkward reaction of Trump’s son, Barron.
The Thanksgiving gathering at Mar-a-Lago saw Trump surrounded by family, including his wife Melania and 18-year-old son Barron, as well as Musk, who has become an increasingly frequent presence at the resort. A video shared online by Musk himself captured the moment the YMCA anthem began playing in the ballroom. Trump, known for using the song at his rallies, enthusiastically started dancing in his seat, prompting Musk to join in with more restrained head nods and subtle movements.
As the song played, Trump, seated between Barron and Musk, was seen energetically gesturing and singing along to YMCA, even banging on the table for emphasis. Observing Musk’s less exuberant moves, Trump playfully tapped Musk on the shoulder, encouraging him to amplify his dance. Musk responded by throwing his arms in the air, a gesture that drew a grin from Trump.
Trump taps Musk on the shoulder as YMCA plays at his Thanksgiving party at Mar-a-Lago
The video clip quickly ignited social media, with many users focusing on Barron Trump’s apparent discomfort during the impromptu dance performance. Barron was filmed looking on as his father and Musk danced, and social media users were quick to point out his seemingly “embarrassed” and “uncomfortable” demeanor. Comments flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter), with users suggesting Barron appeared less than thrilled by the spectacle.
Musk responds by thrusting his arms in the air leaving Trump grinning
One X user commented on Musk’s presence at the Trump family gathering, while another remarked on the overall “weird” body language at the table, with the focus largely on Barron’s reaction. Another popular comment humorously imagined Barron’s internal monologue as wishing the song would end.
Barron Trump appears to flash an awkward smile as his father and Elon Musk dance to the Village People hit
Beyond the viral dance video, the Thanksgiving event underscored the increasingly close relationship between Trump and Musk. Musk’s presence at Mar-a-Lago has become a regular occurrence in recent weeks, to the point where Trump has jokingly commented he “can’t get him out” of the resort. This closeness is further highlighted by reports of Musk joining Trump on calls with international leaders and Trump accompanying Musk to a SpaceX rocket launch. Other attendees at the Thanksgiving celebration included Trump’s daughter Tiffany, son Eric, daughter-in-law Lara, Musk’s mother Maye, and even actor Sylvester Stallone, further cementing the event as a blend of political, business, and celebrity circles.
