Come for the goal, stay for the celebration. Everyone is trying to cozy up to the world’s leader for a potential retweet. Maybe Trump will make Pulisic Secretary of Sport. Nothing is far-fetched now; even the ‘My Pillow Guy’ is up for Director of Local Communications.
Shocking: Right-winger plays right-winger
Right-winger Christian Pulisic is guess what, a right winger on and off the pitch.
Pulisic is a registered Republican and holds residence in South Florida — just down the road from legendary Heron, Lionel Messi.
But Pulisic is also media savvy. After all, his preference is on the left wing. “I do really like playing on the left wing and also in that 10 spot centrally behind the forward,” he said during his Chelsea stint. “I’d say those are my two favorite positions.” The Hershey, Pennsylvania native is versatile.
Pulisic also knows how to play the neutral card in a world devoid of centrists. He copped Jordan’s “Republicans buy sneakers too” mantra after the match, albeit the antithesis.
“I just thought it was funny,” said post-match Pulisic on what inspired the Trump dance. Translation: Democrats buy my kits too. The volley was Pulisic’s 30th goal for the Stars and Stripes, encroaching on Landycakes and the original Captain America’s Clint Dempsey strike record.
Perhaps there’s an element of truth to Pulisic’s comments. The 26-year-old has been practicing his dances on TikTok since the Covid quarantine. The dude just likes to dance, in a textured mullet no less. And the “Trump dance” meme is just another Griddy, which also gained popularity in NFL and UFC spaces. If those athletes are doing it with indifference, why can’t he?
The alternative is that soccer is politics—it always has been. Some would even say it explains the world. Hence, the viral dialogue around Pulisic’s “political” celebration.
Remember when an Iran correspondent lambasted Tyler Adam for mispronouncing “Iran” at the 2022 World Cup? It’s ee-RON, not i-RAN. Adams apologized like a champ and established a temporary rapprochement between the two nations. Joking aside…
Whether Pulisic’s dance was politically infused or light-hearted—call it what you want. The action and reaction runs in the zeitgeist: American politics is entertainment. Pulisic’s teammates Pepi and McKennie also participated in the “celly.”
Captain Maga’s moment is just the beginning of the intriguing banter surrounding soccer in America, a proper build-up to the World Cup crescendo co-hosted by the land of the free. The beautiful game is getting serious stateside.
The Beckham MLS days are over. Messi is in, and his fellow countryman coaches the USMNT. Captain America, meanwhile, is becoming a villain overseas, if even a dubious one at home.
