Trump Praises Victor Willis After Death—Who Opposed President’s Use Of ‘Y.M.C.A’ Before Embracing It
Key takeaways
- Trump has long played "Y.M.C.A." at his rallies, and his signature "Trump dance" went viral during his 2024 campaign.
- Willis and the Village People performed “Y.M.C.A.” at a Trump rally before his second presidential inauguration.
- Trump has used “Y.M.C.A.” at his rallies for years and has hailed it as one of his favorite songs.
Topline President Donald Trump honored Victor Willis, writer-singer behind the Village People’s 1970s hit “Y.M.C.A.,” in a post on Truth Social after the band announced Willis’ death Wednesday, as Trump has played the song at his rallies for years—despite the Village People once sending him a cease-and-desist.
Trump has long played "Y.M.C.A." at his rallies, and his signature "Trump dance" went viral during his 2024 campaign. (Photo by Mandel NGAN - Pool/Getty Images)Getty Images Key Facts Trump praised Willis as a “great and happy guy who loved that I used his groups song, YMCA, at my Rallies,” saying Willis and the Village People were “there for us right from the beginning.”
Willis, though, voiced his opposition to Trump using “Y.M.C.A.” multiple times, before admitting to Billboard in 2024 he would allow Trump to keep using it throughout his presidential campaign because the song had shot back up Billboard’s digital songs chart.