Las Vegas Raiders cut Brock Bowers’ media availability after he answered a question about President-Elect Donald Trump after Sunday’s 34-19 loss to Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.
During the game, Bowers caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Gardner Minshew in the third quarter to bring Las Vegas back into the game, reducing the deficit to a mere five points with a 17-12 score to Miami at that time. Raiders owner Mark Davis threw his arms into the air in delight, as he could be seen celebrating in his seat.
The camera then panned back to Bowers, who mimicked Trump’s famous dance while he was still at the end zone. “I’ve seen everyone do it. I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I like watching UFC so I saw it, and thought it was cool,” Bowers told USA Today reporter Safid Deen, who was on the scene, after the game.
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According to Deen, the Raiders then wrapped the availability, and did not permit any other questions. It remains unclear as to why.
Trump first performed the dance, typically to songs like ‘YMCA’ by Village People, while on the campaign trail as he sought re-election in 2024. Americans went to the polls Tuesday, November 5 and voted for Trump to return to the Oval Office. The dance has, since, taken on a life of its own — especially by athletes who are celebrating a key moment, or a victory.
Two-weight UFC champion Jon Jones defended his heavyweight championship Saturday at Madison Square Garden when he finished Stipe Miocic in the third round with a spinning back kick to the body, before following up with devastating shots to the head. Jones then performed the Trump dance with the 78-year-old in the crowd.
Bowers was at his best on Sunday (
Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The UFC has been intertwined with Republican politics, and Trump in particular, for years. UFC boss Dana White has spoken at Republican National Conventions, and even spoke at Trump’s victory celebration immediately after securing the election win November 6.
“Nobody deserves this more than him, and nobody deserves this more than his family does,” White said of Trump earlier this month. “This is what happens when the machine comes after you. What you’ve seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like.
“Couldn’t stop him, he keeps going forward, he doesn’t quit, he’s the most resilient, hard-working man I’ve ever met in my life, his family are incredible people.”
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