Trump’s Signature Dance Move Finds Its Way to the Sports World
The New York Times
Jon Jones punctuated his U.F.C. win with the president-elect’s shimmy, and numerous N.F.L. players followed suit on Sunday.
The first thing to know about the Donald J. Trump dance craze is that it’s not really a craze. (Not yet, at least.) Nor, to be honest, is it a dance.
What is certain, however, is that the president-elect’s signature shimmy is currently en vogue with all manner of professional athletes, imitated by at least five National Football League players on Sunday, as well as by Jon Jones, the current heavyweight champion of the U.F.C., who seemingly helped spread the fad on Saturday night after knocking out Stipe Miocic in the third round.
Mr. Jones celebrated by rocking from hip to hip and pumping his fists at waist level — both hallmarks of Mr. Trump’s dancing — before pointing his finger at Mr. Trump, who was attending the fight in New York and sitting ringside. Mr. Trump, never one to pass up a compliment, beamed in the moment and soon reposted Mr. Jones’s performance on his Truth Social account.
Mr. Trump’s embrace of events like U.F.C. fights and football games — both brimming with machismo — has been endlessly documented, and was viewed during the campaign as part of a broader effort to appeal to young men.
The public support of Mr. Trump’s moves from prominent athletes came after he had trailed his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, in terms of big-name celebrity endorsements. His resounding victory on Nov. 5, however, has resulted in an increasing trickle of congratulations from famous people — a diverse cohort including the likes of Caitlyn Jenner and Sylvester Stallone. Mr. Jones and the N.F.L. players expanded that circle even more.
