This is the most wonderfully strange country, isn’t it? I have mentioned here before how the United States “won” the World’s Fair called “Expo 67.” A huge, imposing Soviet Union pavilion displayed threshers, tractors and other farm equipment, tanks and satellites, perfectly capturing the harsh gray gravity of life in the USSR. Not far away was the United States pavilion, housed in a giant transparent geodesic dome (courtesy of Buckminister Fuller), filled with joyful explosions of American pop culture: Raggedy Ann dolls, artifacts from the baseball Hall of Fame, cool cars, rock ‘n roll and classic movie clips running on loops. There was Gary Cooper alone in the dusty street; Cary Grant being shot at by that crop duster; Julie Andrews spinning on the mountain top at the start of “The Sound of Music,” Gene Kelly singing in the rain. Tough choice for the international visitors: which country would you want to live in?
And now, after one of the bitterest Presidential campaigns in our history, following almost a decade of a constantly widening breach in our politics, values and discourse, the essential light-heartedness (and habitual triviality) that has always been a feature of our national character is pulling us together.
I didn’t see this coming.
This past weekend, the world of sports was engulfed by a dance craze, spawned, ridiculously enough, by the stiff version of “the twist” performed by President-Elect Donald Trump at his rallies to the beat of the Village People’s iconic hit, “Y.M.C.A.” A mixed martial arts champion did it, a golfer, many American football players in their end zone celebrations and even a soccer star all imitated Trump. Christian Pulisic, captain of the USMNT, did his funky Trump imitation this week when he scored a goal against the Jamaican national soccer team. When asked about the moves by the New York Times, the soccer star confessed that the moves obviously were Trump’s, but it’s “just a dance that everyone’s doing” and he “just thought it was funny.” Joining him in his gyrations were teammates Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie, who had publicly called the President-elect “racist” and “ignorant.”
On CNN, I heard a panel of the Trump-deranged claiming that Republicans and conservatives were engaging in hypocrisy by cheering the “Trump Dance” when they (and Trump) had condemned NFL players and others “taking a knee during” the National Anthem. Both are political statements, they insisted. Except that they aren’t. Colin Kaepernick’s gimmick was explicitly divisive, whereas the Trump dance is apolitical. Some were doing it in mockery, some to show support, and some, I bet, were just following the lead of their team mates. The reality is that the popular culture is signalling recognition and acceptance that Donald Trump has been elected President of the United States in an infectious, innocent, joyful and non-partisan way.
Of course the Axis hates this development: a Slate essayist deplored “expressing support for a specific political leader who is currently pending trial for allegedly inspiring the Jan. 6 insurrection.” Oh, bite me.
This is healthy. It echoes past Americas where everyone could enjoy impressionists mocking Jack Kennedy’s accent, Gerald Ford’s mishaps and Ronald Reagan’s head bobbling as part of the public’s complex relationship with its Chief Executive: not so far above us that he can’t be criticized or kidded, but also a role model and leader who deserves a measure of deference and respect. Today, it gives Trump, who needs it, the benefit of the cognitive dissonance scale for once: being tied to a silly dance, football and nostalgia for “the Twist” can’t help but pull him up the scale.
Yes, yes, it’s just a fad, and it could disappear tomorrow.
But it’s a start.
Ethics Alarms 
But the party of ‘joy’ is screaming, making poisons to murder their boyfriends and husbands, sobbing uncontrollably about how all their rights have somehow been taken away, vowing never to have sex, and calling for the assault or murder against the president-elect and his voters. I wish the previous statement was hyperbole.
The media told them that the president, his party, and his followers had no joy and no sense of humor, but it was just as much projection as when they called him a fascist who wanted to weaponize the DOJ. Then this happens in the middle of the leftist freakout and they freak out even more.
Prior to your comment, I had no idea this was a thing. However, I’m compelled to remind everyone that Social Media has only a tenuous connection to reality, and media like to create trends out of super fringe things.
https://cbsaustin.com/news/nation-world/women-create-matga-trend-about-poisoning-husbands-after-trump-victory-presidential-election-make-aqua-tofana-great-again-white-house-kamala-politics
I was so bored this weekend I watched some NFL games. Seems as if everyone was doing what I came to realize was the Trump dance. And by everybody, I mean even the super-majority of black guys who populate NFL teams. I think the fact it’s not just limited to conservative white players forced the media to essentially stop being outraged. Hilarious.
I suppose if Harris had won, players could have celebrated by imitating Joe standing as stiff and still as a pillar of salt next to everyone else on the stage attempting to groove to a pop song at a campaign event.
Everybody do “The Cackle!”
Caught me at the right time, and Diet Coke came out my nose.
Yes, I am sure it is ‘fringe’, but fringe is not insignificant. These posts are getting more views than CNN and MSNBC combined have viewers (one of the early ones had ~1.5 million views). So yes, fringe, like CNN and MSNBC.
Biden had several chances at a fad, but “wander aimlessly”, “shake hands with ghosts”, “trip and stumble”, “molest a child”, and “fall off your bike” never really caught on with most of the public.
Wim takes the gold.
Actually, “fall off your bike” was a thing on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. Artie Johnson in a yellow rain slicker and hat, tipping over on a tricycle. Made me laugh every time…
Me Too. I always thought it was “Uncle Al” Seus that was on the tricycle. But I just looked it up, and for the 2nd or 3rd time today, I’m proven to be an idiot, and wrong. You are right Jack, twas Arte Johnson. Veddddy Interesting…
Well, at 65 years old my memory isn’t what it used to be so that’s my excuse.
Can you imagine the uproar that would be caused today by the “here’s Uncle Al, the Kiddies Pal” skits?
is everyone doing “Trump Dance”?
or is everyone now noticing that guys do this kind of goofy set of moves now that Trump popularized it?
Culturally speaking, a distinction without a difference—especially f they throw in the golf swing!
Oops. Disregard my most recent comment then. I thought this first one had been lost to ages.
If SNL were still funny, they could have repurposed that theme as a skit after Joe’s bike incident. With the yellow slicker prop, it might have found some traction on TikTok.
Artie also played a Nazi. Joe tried that with his Red Speech, but it didn’t catch on.
Is this really a “Trump Dance” that is catching on?
Or is it just goofy dudes doing goofy dances that people are noticing now because Trump does them also?
In a word Michael, no.
https://babylonbee.com/news/kamala-asks-biden-to-stop-doing-trump-dance-in-cabinet-meetings