The NFL appears to have taken a neutral stance on the growing “Trump Dance” celebrations sweeping through the league. According to Front Office Sports (FOS), the league has “no issue” with players performing the dance and no plans to prohibit it or prevent broadcasts from showing it.
The NFL’s decision reflects a careful balance. Any attempt to restrict the Trump Dance could have drawn backlash from President-elect Donald Trump, who has not shied away from criticizing the league in the past.
“There’s no issue with a celebratory dance such as what took place yesterday or the previous week with the 49ers on November 10,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy told FOS.
His previous remarks during the Colin Kaepernick protests reportedly coincided with an 8% and 10% drop in viewership during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, as noted by FOS’s Michael McCarthy.
The league’s position also underscores a key distinction: while the Kaepernick protests were overtly political and sparked significant controversy, the Trump Dance celebrations don’t disrupt gameplay or violate league rules on profanity or vulgarity.
The dance doesn’t carry an explicitly political message, making it easier for the NFL to allow without stepping into a politically charged debate.
This measured approach appears to align with the league’s broader efforts to maintain its audience and avoid unnecessary controversy as it navigates the current cultural climate.
