President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday that First Lady Melania Trump strongly disapproves of two of his most recognizable stage performances: his rally dancing and his weightlifting impressions used to criticize transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Speaking to House Republicans during a closed-door retreat at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Trump described his wife as “very classy” while recounting her repeated objections to his theatrical gestures. The president said Melania told him dancing is not presidential, questioning whether he could imagine Franklin D. Roosevelt dancing.
Trump responded by noting there was context his wife might be overlooking. He said FDR was elegant but wouldn’t be dancing, pointing out that Roosevelt used a wheelchair after contracting polio. The 32nd president’s disability has been well-documented, though Roosevelt went to great lengths during his presidency to minimize public awareness of his condition.
The president’s signature dance routine has become a hallmark of his public appearances, particularly during the 2024 campaign rallies. Trump typically dances to the Village People’s “YMCA” or Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” performing moves that include fist pumping and arm shimmying while pointing to people in the crowd.
The dance became so popular during the campaign that NFL players imitated Trump’s moves in touchdown celebrations, spreading the routine far beyond political rallies. Trump insisted to lawmakers that his supporters genuinely enjoy the performances, despite his wife’s skepticism.
“Everybody wants me to dance,” Trump said he told Melania. “The place goes crazy.”
According to the president, the first lady remained unconvinced. She told him supporters don’t like it and are just being nice to him. Trump rejected this suggestion outright, telling the Republican lawmakers that crowds scream for him to dance.
Trump previously mentioned Melania’s disapproval during a 2023 event in Iowa, indicating this has been an ongoing disagreement between the couple. Despite her objections, Trump told her he did become president while performing these routines, suggesting the gestures didn’t harm his political success.
The weightlifting impression drew even stronger criticism from the first lady. Trump uses the exaggerated mime to criticize policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports, a topic that has become a significant political flashpoint in recent years.
During the GOP retreat on Tuesday, Trump performed the weightlifting impression while discussing transgender athletes. After initially offering a brief version, he decided to be more emphatic, sticking out his tongue, panting heavily, and acting exhausted before pretending to drop an imaginary barbell.
Melania called the weightlifting impression terrible, according to her husband. Republican lawmakers at the retreat cheered Trump’s performance enthusiastically, suggesting the president’s assessment of audience reaction may be more accurate than his wife’s.
Trump’s address frequently strayed from prepared remarks, but he told the audience his rambling comments were a roadmap to victory ahead of challenging midterm elections. The president’s speaking style, which often includes tangents and impromptu performances, has been a defining characteristic of his political career.
At the end of his lengthy speech, Trump once again defied Melania’s advice and broke into his trademark dance, pumping his fists while Republican lawmakers applauded. The moment offered insight into the dynamic between the president and first lady, revealing tensions between Trump’s instinct for spectacle and Melania’s preference for traditional presidential decorum.
The first lady’s concerns about presidential dignity reflect longstanding debates about appropriate conduct for the nation’s highest office. Historical presidents have adopted vastly different public personas, from formal reserve to more casual approachability.
Trump’s dancing and theatrical gestures represent a departure from conventional presidential behavior, though they have proven effective at energizing his political base. The routines create memorable moments that spread rapidly on social media, generating both enthusiasm among supporters and criticism from opponents.
The president’s reference to FDR is particularly notable given Roosevelt’s status as one of history’s most consequential presidents. Roosevelt led the nation through the Great Depression and most of World War II. His disability, resulting from polio, was largely hidden from public view through careful stage management and cooperation from the press.
Modern presidents face drastically different media environments than Roosevelt did, with constant camera coverage and social media amplifying every public moment. Trump has adapted to this environment by creating viral moments through his unconventional behavior, even when it draws criticism from those seeking more traditional presidential conduct.
The retreat at the Kennedy Center provided Republicans an opportunity to strategize ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The president also met with Ukrainian President Zelensky on Friday.
Trump also made personal revelations during his Tuesday remarks, telling lawmakers that Melania loves their son Barron more than him. The couple’s only child together, Barron has largely stayed out of the public eye despite his father’s prominence.
The first lady has been selective in her public appearances and statements, maintaining a more reserved profile than many previous first ladies. She wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin about children affected by the war in Ukraine, which Trump delivered during their meeting on Friday. The letter appealed to Putin to consider the impact of the conflict on young people.
Despite Melania’s objections to his stage performances, Trump showed no indication he plans to abandon the routines that have become synonymous with his political brand. The tension between the president’s theatrical instincts and the first lady’s concerns about presidential dignity appears likely to continue as Trump maintains his unconventional approach to the office.
