Christian Pulisic’s red-hot form with both AC Milan and the U.S. men’s national team has the American placed amongst the best players in the world right now — though, it's not exactly exempting him from criticism. The reason? His latest celebration.
Pulisic scored two of the four goals in the USMNT's 4-2 victory over Jamaica (5-2 score aggregate) to seal their spot in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals, further cementing his status as the United States’ target man and main attacking threat.
The 25-year-old's first goal was undoubtedly the best, perfectly-anticipating a Weston McKennie cross and placing the ball into the top bins with his weak foot.
SIMPLY FANTASTIC FROM @WMckennie AND @pulisic!#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/RJmDSc8KqY
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
Captain America making it look easy.
His second, which came of a deflection, doubled the USMNT's lead.
ANOTHER ONE. @pulisic's deflected shot doubles the lead!#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/wtvIEo241F
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
Watch: Christian Pulisic Trump celebration — USMNT star causes division from fans on social media
However, shortly after scoring the opener, the Hershey, Pennsylvania native ran towards the corner flag and hit what looked like the Donald Trump dancing celebration, joined by McKennie and Ricardo Pepi.
This was only visible to those actually watching the live broadcast, as accounts like the U.S. men’s national team decided to crop the video shortly before Pulisic did the celebration.
Christian Pulisic wasn't the only USMNT player that hit the Trump dance after his goal against Jamaica.
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) November 19, 2024
Why did you cut off Trump dance?? pic.twitter.com/5yU3THqPWc
— STEVE KIPER (@SKiper2) November 19, 2024
That didn’t stop fans from bringing up the celebration in the replies, however, as many hit at Pulisic for ‘bringing politics’ into the sport and for the USMNT to try to anticipate and avoid the backlash across their socials.
Why did you cut off the dance…?
— Drew (Toxic I Guess) (@drewkerr17) November 19, 2024
Oh come on! We all saw the Trump YMCA dance! Don't cut that off like that! That is some BS if I ever saw it.
— Matthew Smith (@MSmith1883) November 19, 2024
Show the dance cowards!
— Bus_Driver (@Chinookdriver56) November 19, 2024
Like in the USMNT’s various platforms, the response, backlash, praise and everything in between, was quick to show up on social media, with the “Pulisic Trump celebration” becoming a hot topic in USMNT Twitter (now X).
Personalities, fan accounts, former players and celebrities all chimed in to give their opinion on the Pulisic celebration.
Pulisic telling the dual nats he’ll deport them if they drop a stinker pic.twitter.com/sxoDtWWdV0
— YBG Dom (@KnowerOfBans) November 19, 2024
now he didn’t have to do all that…..
— ًًً (@_captainpulisic) November 19, 2024
Keep politics out of sports right? https://t.co/ijUdpsofRQ
— Morgan Tencza (@morgantencza) November 19, 2024
I’m not going mention Pulisic’s celebration
— MLS Transfers (@MLSTransfers) November 19, 2024
Christian Pulisic does a dance to honor the man who wants to take the citizenship of over half of his USMNT teammates, which is filled with 1st gen and dual nats
Pulisic himself only made it in Europe due to his Croatian PassportI swear these MAGA idiots get dumber and dumber
— Santiago Muñez (@mozkid8) November 19, 2024
Why did he have to do the dance
— Kranks (@dis_possessed) November 19, 2024
I been telling yall for years Pulisic plays better against Mexico because he hates Mexicans and they called me a mad man smh
— YBG Dom (@KnowerOfBans) November 19, 2024
Pulisic scores. Pulisic does the Trump dance. We're winning the World Cup...bigly. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/rXy3Z7UXpK
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) November 19, 2024
Did fans have a right to be upset? Or is this just another ‘controversial’ moment that fans will be quick to forget about?
