The Village People, the iconic disco group known for hits like “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man,” are defending their decision to perform at events surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration on January 20.
The group shared a statement on Facebook explaining their choice to accept an invitation from Trump’s campaign to perform at several inaugural events. “We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear,” they wrote. “However, we believe music should be performed without regard to politics.”
For years, Village People songs like “Y.M.C.A.” have been a regular part of Trump’s campaign playlists, with the president even going viral in 2020 for dancing to “Y.M.C.A.” at his rallies. The current lineup of Village People, now with six members and Victor Willis as the only original member, says they’re stepping up to bring the country together through music.
The statement emphasized that “Y.M.C.A.” is a global anthem and, after a divisive political season, the group hopes to unite the nation. “It’s time to bring the country together with music,” they added.
While the group had previously objected to the use of their songs at Trump’s rallies, sending a cease-and-desist letter in 2023 when “Macho Man” played at a Mar-a-Lago event, Willis has since changed his stance. He explained that his initial concerns were about the song being associated with Trump’s campaign, but after seeing the joy it brought to so many people, he reconsidered.
In a recent interview, Willis revealed that after some thought, he decided not to stop Trump’s use of “Y.M.C.A.” at rallies, because Trump seemed to genuinely enjoy the song and the crowds loved it. Willis also admitted that if they were invited to perform at the inauguration, the group would “seriously consider” it.
Willis also addressed the long-standing debate about “Y.M.C.A.” being a gay anthem. While the song has often been seen as a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, Willis explained that he and his songwriting partner never intended for it to be one. He said that the song’s appeal is universal and shouldn’t be wrongly labeled.
In the end, the Village People are ready to set aside politics and use their music to bring people together, no matter where they stand.
