How to Sign "Trump"

To sign 'Trump', use your dominant hand in an open, flat handshape with your fingers held together. Place your hand near the hairline on the dominant side of your forehead, ensuring your palm is facing toward your head. Smoothly sweep your hand across the front of your hairline to the opposite side, mimicking the motion of styling a comb-over. The hand can lightly touch your hair or hover just above it as you complete the movement.

Examples Using "Trump" in a Sentence

1

Donald Trump was the 45th president.

To sign this sentence, you will first use the sweeping motion across your forehead to sign 'Trump'. After establishing the subject, sign the number '45', and finish with the standard sign for 'President', which involves bringing both 'C' hands outward from your forehead as if grasping a hat.

2

Did you watch the Trump interview?

Start by establishing the topic with the sign for 'Trump'. Next, use the sign for 'interview' by moving both 'I' hands back and forth near your mouth. Finally, sign 'watch' and raise your eyebrows to indicate that you are asking a yes or no question.

3

Trump is speaking on the news tonight.

Begin your sentence with the sign for 'Trump'. Then, use the sign for 'speak' near your mouth. Follow this up with the sign for 'news' on your non-dominant hand, and conclude by signing 'tonight' to give the complete context of when the event is happening.

How to Sign "Trump"
To sign 'Trump', use your dominant hand in an open, flat handshape with your fingers held together. Place your hand near the hairline on the dominant side of your forehead, ensuring your palm is facing toward your head. Smoothly sweep your hand across the front of your hairline to the opposite side, mimicking the motion of styling a comb-over. The hand can lightly touch your hair or hover just above it as you complete the movement.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'Trump' is a perfect example of an iconic name sign in American Sign Language. It visually represents Donald Trump's widely recognized and signature comb-over hairstyle. The sweeping motion of the flat hand across the forehead directly mimics the physical action of styling his hair in that specific way. In Deaf culture, it is very common for public figures to be given name signs based on a prominent physical feature, and this sign quickly became the universal standard due to its clear visual connection.
Signing Tips
When practicing the sign for 'Trump', focus on keeping the motion smooth and deliberate. Sweep your dominant hand directly across the front of your hairline from one side to the other. Your hand should be relaxed but maintain a flat shape, as if you are physically smoothing down a section of hair. Make sure your palm stays facing your head throughout the entire movement. Practicing in front of a mirror can help you ensure the placement is correct and the motion looks natural.
Common Mistakes
A very common mistake beginners make with this sign is exaggerating the sweeping motion, making it too large, or bringing the hand all the way down the side of the face or neck. Remember to keep the movement localized strictly to the top front of the head, right at the hairline. Another mistake is using a closed fist or a claw handshape instead of a relaxed, open flat hand. Keeping your fingers together and your hand flat is key to executing this sign clearly.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Trump" in a Sentence
1

Donald Trump was the 45th president.

To sign this sentence, you will first use the sweeping motion across your forehead to sign 'Trump'. After establishing the subject, sign the number '45', and finish with the standard sign for 'President', which involves bringing both 'C' hands outward from your forehead as if grasping a hat.

2

Did you watch the Trump interview?

Start by establishing the topic with the sign for 'Trump'. Next, use the sign for 'interview' by moving both 'I' hands back and forth near your mouth. Finally, sign 'watch' and raise your eyebrows to indicate that you are asking a yes or no question.

3

Trump is speaking on the news tonight.

Begin your sentence with the sign for 'Trump'. Then, use the sign for 'speak' near your mouth. Follow this up with the sign for 'news' on your non-dominant hand, and conclude by signing 'tonight' to give the complete context of when the event is happening.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is this sign considered a joke or is it used formally?

While the sign definitely originated from a prominent visual characteristic—his unique hairstyle—it is not considered a joke. It has become the standard, widely accepted name sign for Donald Trump throughout the Deaf community. You will see it used in everyday casual conversations as well as in highly formal professional settings, including national news broadcasts and political interpreting.

Do I need to fingerspell his name before using the sign?

If the context of your conversation is already clear, you can go ahead and use the sign directly. However, when you are introducing him for the very first time in a discussion, it is standard practice to fingerspell T-R-U-M-P first, immediately followed by the sign to establish who you are talking about.

Should my hand actually touch my head when signing this?

Your hand can lightly brush against your hair or forehead, or it can hover just slightly above the hairline as it sweeps across. Either variation is perfectly acceptable and easily understood by fluent signers. Just focus on making sure the sweeping motion and the flat handshape are clear and deliberate.

ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!