Former President Donald Trump found himself the subject of widespread mockery after a video clip of his recent rally in Glendale, Arizona, went viral. The clip, which shows Trump awkwardly dancing to music, quickly circulated on social media, where users were quick to criticize his lackluster moves.
The video, originally shared on Thursday, August 29, captures Trump swaying slightly and swinging his arms in a manner that many described as "lazy" and "awkward." In one particularly popular edit, the clip was paired with the iconic theme music from the Peanuts cartoon, drawing further attention to the former president’s unusual dance style.
Social media users didn’t hold back in their critiques. On X, formerly known as Twitter, one user commented on how Trump’s moves resembled "a dying fish flopping around," while another pointed out the comedic timing of the dance when matched with the Charlie Brown music. The edited video quickly gained traction, with many joining in to poke fun at the former president’s performance.
This latest viral moment adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding the music used at Trump’s rallies. Recently, the former president faced backlash from Swedish pop supergroup ABBA after their music was played at a campaign event in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The group demanded that Trump’s campaign pull any footage from the rally that included their songs, as no permission had been granted for their use.
According to Universal Music Publishing and Polar Music International, neither entity had received a request for permission, and thus no license was issued to Trump’s campaign. Despite this, several of ABBA’s greatest hits, including "Money, Money, Money," "The Winner Takes It All," and "Dancing Queen," were featured prominently during the event.
This isn’t the first time Trump has faced resistance from artists regarding the unauthorized use of their music. Over the years, more than 30 artists, including Foo Fighters, Aerosmith, Beyoncé, Nickelback, Elton John, Green Day, Adele, The White Stripes, Ozzy Osbourne, and The Rolling Stones, have requested that their music not be played at Trump rallies.
The issue of music usage at political events has been a recurring problem for Trump’s campaign, with many artists expressing their dissatisfaction over being associated with the former president’s political messaging. Despite the pushback, Trump has continued to use popular music at his events, much to the chagrin of the artists involved.
As Trump continues his campaign for re-election, moments like these contribute to the ongoing narrative surrounding his public appearances and the controversies they often spark. While his supporters may see the dance as a lighthearted moment, critics argue that it underscores a broader pattern of missteps and miscalculations.