Jake Paul posted a TikTok doing the Donald Trump signature dance that NFL star Amon-Ra. St. Brown caught heat for, and immediately faced similar backlash from critics who labeled it 'peak cringe"
00:21 ET, 12 Mar 2026Updated 00:23 ET, 12 Mar 2026
Jake Paul and Donald Trump dance on TikTok
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Jake Paul performed Donald Trump's signature dance on the same day he spoke during the president's Kentucky rally(Image: TikTok (@JakePaul))
Jake Paul leaned even harder into his "Problem Child" persona and his alliance with Donald Trump after appearing at the president's Kentucky rally and posting a TikTok of himself performing Trump's signature dance. The choice baited similar backlash from an NFL star who pulled off the move last season and was punched in the face afterward.
The video showed Paul and Trump side by side in suits, standing in front of two chairs and a line of MAGA hats. They then began performing the alternating-arm dance, as Paul captioned the clip: "Amazing day and interview coming with DJT."
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After Paul pressed send and the video hit social media, plenty of the attention turned ugly fast. Trump's disapproval rating sat at 56 percent on the day that the video was released.
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Meanwhile, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has solved a $7.8 million problem to keep the FIFA World Cup at Gillette Stadium.
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown found that out the hard way last year when he did the Trump dance after a touchdown with the president in attendance, and later walked it back and apologized following scathing backlash online.
St. Brown's heat only came from performing the moves, while Paul upped the ante and performed the routine shoulder to shoulder with Trump himself.
During the rally earlier that day, Trump praised Paul's courage and called him "a hell of a fighter," even suggesting that the YouTuber-turned-boxer could one day enter politics.
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Paul returned the love from the stage, crediting Trump with teaching him courage and the value of never backing down. He later doubled down online with the TikTok clip that critics immediately framed as desperate, awkward, and painfully overproduced.
An account named Republicans Against Trump called the post "peak cringe." Most replies to Paul’s video criticized it as embarrassing, although a few commentators supported the performance.
One user wrote, "Jake you used to be a good YouTuber." Another claimed Paul had already lost followers after being knocked out by Anthony Joshua and that posting a video with Trump wouldn't make optics any better.
Amon-Ra St. Brown does the Donald Trump dance while celebrating a touchdown
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Detroit Lions star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown led a Trump dance with teammates after scoring against the Washington Commanders(Image: Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Others dismissed the clip as pure "hate farming," with Paul hoping to get under his detractors' skin.
Paul has been known to leverage criticism into revenue and even sells a hater-blocking spray deodorant, which he marketed on the way to the ring on the night he defeated Mike Tyson — after listing sweating as one of his longtime insecurities
Jake Paul's gross hygiene issue causes distraction at Trump rally
Perhaps the can would have come in handy during the Trump rally on Wednesday.
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As Paul praised Trump, both attendees and online viewers noted a gross hygiene issue that proved to be distracting during his speech.