A festive proclamation, a handful of roaring engines, and a blare of a fight-song framed Donald Trump in unusually buoyant form.
The president, now 80, radiated enthusiasm on July 13 as he welcomed IndyCar drivers Álex Palou, Félix Rosenqvist, and David Malukas to the White House.
He stepped out from the White House’s West Wing as the race cars rolled in and pit crews sprang into action along West Executive Drive.
As Trump prepared to address the crowd about the forthcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix, Survivor’s 1982 hit “Eye of the Tiger” blasted from the speakers.
The race is slated for Aug. 23, taking place on the streets around the National Mall and along Pennsylvania Avenue.
If the event turns out anything like his Freedom 250 UFC bout, it is certain to become a viral sensation across social media.
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However, many are currently buzzing about a video that captures Trump’s unusually animated mood during the raceway preview.
Trump stepped toward the podium as the “Rocky III” theme swelled. He pretended to drum while the instrumental built, his hands dancing over his printed remarks.
To his right, two of the three drivers flashed smiles and laughed, watching him ride the moment to the music.
Trump appeared oblivious to their stares, his brows knitted with the kind of intense focus you might expect from a rock-star drummer.
The display ended abruptly when he paused to confer with motorsports executives and administration aides who stood to his left.
President Trump dances to Eye of the Tiger 🤣🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ukn8ctgFQ9
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) July 13, 2026
The 15-second clip concludes with Trump gazing out at the crowd, bobbing his head and wiggling his fingers in time with the tune.
He plants his feet, shifting between a broad, hips-at-ease stance and a staggered pose.
A supporter described the moment as “President Trump going full ROCKY, dancing to Eye of the Tiger at the White House. We the people love Trump!”
An X user asked, “Um, what are we even doing here?” while countless others piled on, ridiculing Trump’s playful antics. Among the comments were:
“What a Freak-Show!”
“Maybe the tiger’s rear end.”
“He always has to turn everything into a spectacle, and it’s exhausting. Trump isn’t a tough guy; he comes off as a buffoon.”
Trump has leaned on the “Rocky III” anthem for his rally entrances and exits since the 2016 campaign, and the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” has often served as the soundtrack to his political career.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2019
Survivor lashed out after their song played at a news conference for former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis following her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Nevertheless, Trump has faced cease-and-desist notices from artists such as Beyoncé, Adele, the Rolling Stones, and others demanding that he cease using their music.
Trump’s association with the Rocky films also extends to employing the iconic “Gonna Fly Now” theme for rallies and speeches.
In a 2016 Philadelphia Magazine interview, composer Bill Conti commented that he thought it was fitting for Trump to use the iconic tune.
“The track is my creation, and whenever something I wrote is used, I’m pleased,” Conti reportedly said. “Music has no politics tied to it—my family and I benefit from its use.”
Trump is also known to be an admirer of actor Sylvester Stallone, who portrays Rocky Balboa. In 2019, Trump shared a photo of his head photoshopped onto Rocky’s body, and the two men later crossed paths when Stallone received a Kennedy Center Honors medal in 2025.
