The Belgian national soccer team celebrated its 4-1 victory over the United States in the World Cup on Monday night by mimicking President Donald Trump's signature dance. After scoring their fourth goal, several players were observed imitating the distinct, jerky movements Trump performs at his rallies, often to the song "Y.M.C.A."
The dance, characterized by Trump's bent arms and clenched fists moving forward and backward with minimal leg movement, was a clear point of reference for the Belgian team. The act is understood by some observers as a response to a personal phone call from Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This call reportedly influenced a red card reversal, which would have otherwise sidelined star forward Folarin Balogun from the match.
The team continued their playful taunting in the locker room after the game. According to Yahoo! sportswriter Kyle Koster, the effectiveness of such a gesture relies on its recognition as a "troll." Koster suggested that even ardent American supporters should find the action acceptable given the team's decisive win, adding that some players' renditions could have been more accurate approximations of the original dance.
The White House has not yet issued an immediate response to the incident.