President Donald Trump joked on Tuesday that first lady Melania Trump disapproves whenever he dances in public, calling it “not presidential.” He made the comments during an address to Republican lawmakers at the House GOP Member Retreat at the Kennedy Center.
Trump on the First Lady’s Disapproval
“My wife hates when I do this,” Trump said. “She’s a very classy person. She said, ‘It’s so unpresidential.’ I said, ‘But I did become president.’ … She hates when I dance, but everybody wants me to dance.”
Trump recalled that Melania reminded him past presidents didn’t dance alone on political stages. He cited Franklin Delano Roosevelt as an example of how presidents should carry themselves. “She actually said, ‘Could you imagine FDR dancing?’” Trump said.
Trump’s Signature Rally Dance
Trump’s dancing became a hallmark of his 2024 campaign rallies. He often opened and closed events dancing to songs like the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” or Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” His moves usually include fist pumps, arm shimmies, and pointing to supporters in the crowd.
The president said his wife also objects to him imitating weightlifters during public appearances. “She said, ‘The weightlifting is terrible,’” he said, joking that while she may disapprove, supporters enjoy the routines.
Context of the Kennedy Center Speech
Trump’s remarks came during a broader address focused on the party’s agenda for 2026. The event followed a historic weekend in which he confirmed U.S. forces captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who now face narco-terrorism charges in New York.
Trump ended his speech with a final dance, clapping along to “Y.M.C.A.” as he left the stage, keeping with his signature campaign-style flair.
