Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown issued an apology following his touchdown celebration during the game against the Washington Commanders on November 9. The dance, which some perceived as a nod to President Donald Trump, sparked controversy.
“If I offended anyone, I do apologize. I did not mean to offend anyone. It was just, we’re having fun,” St. Brown stated on his “St. Brown Podcast” on November 12, clarifying his intentions.
Trump, who attended the Lions' 44-22 victory, made history as the first sitting president to watch a regular season NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978. St. Brown emphasized that his celebration was not politically motivated: “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 occurred in the first quarter, prior to Trump’s arrival. After scoring, St. Brown pointed to the crowd and performed a shuffle reminiscent of Trump’s campaign rally moves.
“We were just having fun, doing the dance. Nothing more, nothing less,” he reiterated, defending his actions.
St. Brown is not alone in this celebratory trend; in 2024, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa also showcased the shuffle after a pivotal sack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bosa, known for his vocal support of Trump, had previously faced fines for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat during an on-field interview.
Trump acknowledged both players for their celebrations. Following Bosa’s performance, he praised him on Truth Social, stating, “NICK BOSA IS A GREAT PLAYER!”
In a show of support for St. Brown, Trump reposted a video of the wide receiver’s touchdown on Truth Social, dubbing him “Amon-Ra St. Trump.”
During the game, Trump also made an appearance in the Fox broadcast booth, discussing NFL dynamics and reminiscing about his own high school football days at New York Military Academy from 1959 to 1964. When asked about his touchdown record, he humorously replied, “I’m not sure I had any,” attributing it to a quarterback with limited throwing ability.
Reflecting on his sports fandom, Trump shared that he grew up supporting the Jets and Giants but has since expanded his interests as president, attending events like the Army-Navy football game and the Super Bowl.
“It’s a microcosm of life,” he remarked. “You can equate sports with life. You have the triumph and you have the problems. You gotta get through the problems to hit the triumphs. You can never quit, you can never give up.”
