Three Tigers Players Perform 'Trump Dance' at Yankee Stadium During President’s Appearance

Three Detroit Tigers players revived the so-called "Trump dance" during Thursday night's game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium while President Donald Trump attended.

Dillon Dingler and Wenceel Perez performed the hip shimmy and arm shake after reaching base in the top of the second inning, and Gleyber Torres — a Venezuelan who previously played for the Yankees — made the same motion in the third inning. Video from the game showed the trio gesturing toward the stands where Trump was seated.

Trump arrived at the ballpark around 7 p.m. ET after flying in from Washington, D.C., and met briefly with Yankees players in their clubhouse before the game. His presence drew mixed reactions from the crowd during the national anthem, with boos and cheers captured on the stadium video board. When the Yankees' Aaron Judge hit a home run in the bottom of the first inning, Trump stood and applauded.

In the second inning, the stadium announced the president's attendance and played "Hail to the Chief" while a prolonged shot of Trump appeared on the jumbotron; the crowd's response again included both boos and cheers. Young fans seated near the president were recorded urging him to join in the on-field celebration; one was heard shouting, "Do the dance! Come on, Daddy!"

Tigers manager and team representatives did not issue immediate statements about the on-field celebrations. The actions were part of a broader trend in professional sports since last year in which athletes across multiple leagues have mimicked Trump's characteristic arm and hip movements during games.

NFL players, including Brock Bowers, Calvin Ridley and Nick Bosa, were among those previously photographed performing the dance on the field. The NFL fined 49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa nearly $12,000 for wearing a politically themed hat on the sideline during a broadcast, citing league rules on messages displayed during games, though the league has not routinely fined players for performing the dance as a celebration. Soccer player Christian Pulisic, British LPGA player Charley Hull and UFC fighter Jon Jones have also been shown imitating the movement during public celebrations.

Fans at Yankee Stadium joined in the mimicry later in the game when the stadium played "YMCA," a longtime in-game tradition. Video showed groups of fans copying the president's movements from the stands while Trump appeared to smile and move along with them.

The president's attendance at the game occurred a day after he announced the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot at an event in Utah. Authorities later said a suspect was taken into custody. Trump addressed news coverage of the shooting in media appearances before traveling to New York.

The Tigers and Yankees continued the game without additional incident related to the dances. Play-by-play accounts noted the timing of the celebrations amid routine in-game developments, including Judge's early home run and the usual seventh-inning stretch traditions.

Managers, league officials and team representatives did not immediately announce any disciplinary action related to the on-field celebrations. The episode underscored how gestures by public figures can spread quickly in sports settings and draw attention both on the field and among spectators in the stands.