Amon-Ra St. Brown apologizes after viral Trump dance sparks backlash
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated his touchdown with the “Trump dance” as the president watched on, but not everyone was amused.
Last week, president Donald Trump attended the Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders game, and Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated a touchdown with his famous “Trump dance”. That one move caused a huge stir amongst fans who saw it as a political statement.
#Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown scored a TD and did the Trump Dance: pic.twitter.com/7DUJsrgcnC
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 9, 2025
Now, St. Brown has addressed the controversy surrounding his Trump dance during Sunday’s victory, offering an apology to anyone who may have been offended.
NFL celebration or political statement? St. Brown clears the air
Speaking on his podcast with brother Equanimeous St. Brown, Amon-Ra explained, “First of all, if I offended anyone, I do apologize. I did not mean to offend anyone. It was just, we’re having fun."
#Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on his Trump Dance from Sunday:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 12, 2025
"If I offended anyone, I do apologize. ... If any President was at that game, if they had a dance, I would have done it.”
(via @StBrownPodcast) pic.twitter.com/lT7dYIe15f https://t.co/qOOegsdU7T
“If any president was at that game and had a dance, I would have done it. It had nothing to do with who the president was.”
The touchdown celebration gained traction on social media, partly because it coincided with the attendance of Trump, who became the first sitting president to attend a regular-season NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978. While Trump missed seeing the dance live, as it occurred before he arrived, he later shared a clip online, dubbing the receiver “Amon-Ra St Trump”.
St. Brown’s apology brings to light the fine line athletes must walk between personal expression and public interpretation. Viral dances, celebrations, and social media reactions can quickly become politicized, whether intended or not. The 24-year-old wide receiver emphasized that his actions were about celebration and fun, not politics.
“It’s just about having fun on the field,” St. Brown added. “Nothing more, nothing less.” Fans and critics alike continue to debate the implications, but the Lions receiver’s candid explanation may help shift the focus back to football and away from politics.
With the season underway and social media ever-present, St. Brown’s experience is a reminder that even on-field moments intended as playful can resonate far beyond the stadium, and sometimes, require clarification.
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