2025: the year’s most surreal intersections

December 22, 2025

2025 wasn’t exactly short on political theatre, but if there’s one thing the internet won’t forget this year it’s the absurd dance clips of former and current US President Donald Trump that went viral again and again. From ceremonial balls to ASEAN summits and campaign rallies, Trump’s moves became one of the year’s most shared and memed sights online, turning serious politics into inadvertent comedy. Here’s a look at the most LOL-worthy Trump dance moments of 2025.

The year kicked off with a moment that pretty much defined the vibe. At his second inauguration’s Commander-in-Chief Ball, Trump was handed a military sword to cut the ceremonial cake and promptly started dancing with it, complete with swaying steps and some over-the-top poses that quickly lit up social media. Videos showed him holding the sword like a prop and moving to the music with an energy that had viewers both confused and entertained. What was meant to be a formal celebration ended up being one of the most bizarre clips of the year. The clip spread so rapidly that it became a staple meme well into summer.
Not long after, during a MAGA victory rally, Trump joined the Village People on stage as they played “YMCA.” Instead of staying serious, he jumped into the groove, clapping and swaying with the band behind him. The performance was equal parts awkward and iconic: the crowd went wild, the band kept playing, and Trump embraced the disco vibe in a way that was impossible not to laugh at.

Another standout moment came during Trump’s diplomatic trip to Malaysia in October. A video of him joining traditional dancers at the airport welcome event shot to nearly 38 million views. In it, he sways his hips and pumps his fists alongside Malaysian performers, creating one of the most unexpectedly wholesome clips of the year. Supporters called it “fun,” critics called it “cringe,” but everyone watched it.

Even outside official events, Trump’s trademark “Trump dance” — a slow, side-to-side hip sway mixed with relaxed fist pumps — kept popping up at rallies and big games. At NFL events and campaign stops, crowds captured him in his signature groove, and those clips spawned countless TikTok challenges, remixes, and reaction videos.
What made these moments so memorable wasn’t just the moves themselves but how they blew up online. In an age where every viral moment gets clipped, remixed, captioned, and shared, Trump’s dancing became a running joke, a political talking point, and a kind of unexpected branding. Whether people laughed with him or at him, these dance clips were impossible to ignore.
By the end of 2025, Trump’s moves had gone from “what is happening” videos to full-on internet cultural artifacts — marking what many will remember as one of the year’s most surreal intersections between politics and viral comedy.