Pro soccer player blasts media for praising Megan Rapinoe while blasting Christian Pulisic for Trump dance

U.S. men’s soccer star Christian Pulisic made headlines recently after scoring a goal and celebrating with President-elect Trump’s “YMCA” dance moves. Pulisic, who called the dance “funny” and insisted it was not meant to be political, faced criticism from some quarters.

The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) chose to omit the dance from their social media repost of Pulisic’s goal, prompting disappointment from anonymous USSF officials. Despite the backlash, Pulisic’s actions were defended by former US soccer youth program member Andrew Carleton, who accused the media of hypocrisy in their treatment of Pulisic compared to other athletes like Megan Rapinoe.

The Athletic writer Jeff Reuter cautioned Pulisic to consider the impact of his actions, suggesting that mimicking a dance associated with an elected leader could have political implications. Carleton, in a tweet, defended Pulisic’s right to dance as he pleased but emphasized the importance of considering the message it sends to teammates and fans.

Carleton, who last played for the Las Vegas Lights in the USL, was part of the US U20 team in 2019. As the debate over Pulisic’s dance continues, it serves as a reminder of the scrutiny that high-profile athletes face in the age of social media.

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