Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers pumped his arms back and forth and wiggled his hips after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, seemingly echoing the signature dance moves of President-elect Donald Trump.
When reporters asked about the inspiration for Bowers’ celebration after the game, he insisted it had no connection to the Republican.
“I’ve seen everyone do it. I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it,” Bowers said. “I like watching UFC, so I saw it and thought it was cool.”
Members of the Raiders’ public relations department abruptly ended Bowers’ media availability after the question, according to USA Today’s Safid Deen. The team didn’t include the tight end’s answer in its postgame transcripts provided to the media and didn’t post any videos of the exchange on its official accounts.
While Bowers waffled, Jones was clear about his inspiration for the dance on Saturday.
“Trump, check it out,” the fighter said before the dance.
He singled out Mr. Trump in his victory speech and briefly handed the championship belt to the president-elect after defeating Stipe Miocic by technical knockout in the third round.
Several NFL players busted out similar dance moves Sunday. Detroit Lions defenders Za’Darius Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez danced after a sack, while Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley performed a comparable celebration after his touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings.
It’s unclear if the dancers were inspired by Jones, as Bowers insisted, or Mr. Trump. That hasn’t stopped the president-elect’s supporters from claiming the latest dances as a cultural victory.
“TOTAL. MAGA. TAKEOVER,” the official Trump War Room campaign account wrote on X, alongside a video of the dances.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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