Village People in concert – YMCA: gay anthem or Trump party song?

What is the subject?
On January 20, the future President of the United States, Donald Trump, will be officially inaugurated into office. As the soundtrack for his induction, he chose the Village People’s 1978 disco classic “YMCA.” Lead singer Victor Willis posted on Facebook that the Village People would be participating in the inauguration events, including at least one meeting with President-elect Trump. Interestingly, “YMCA” is recognized as a global anthem of the gay community, while Trump has, in the past, restricted the rights of queer people.

Why did Donald Trump choose “YMCA” as music for his events?
“YMCA” has become a staple at Donald Trump’s political rallies. Numerous videos online show Trump walking toward the podium, waving his arms to the music. In an episode of the “Full Send” podcast in 2022, Trump said he enjoyed this song during parties at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, specifying that this song would surely put his guests in a good mood. “Macho Man”, another Village People hit, is also on his playlist.

Is “YMCA” really a gay anthem?
Donald Trump himself once called “YMCA” the “national gay anthem.” This song resonates with the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the 1970s, giving it global reach as a gay anthem. Additionally, the look of the Village People echoes the queer scene of that era. The group’s name evokes the “Greenwich Village” neighborhood in Manhattan, which was seen as the alternative and gay center of New York at the time of their formation.

However, Victor Willis has a different perspective. In a post on Facebook, he specifies that if the majority of the members of the group and co-writer Jacques Morali are homosexual, the song does not talk about homosexuality. According to him, the text rather evokes platonic friendship between black men in the 1970s. For him, this is a misinterpretation of the song as a symbol of relationships between queer people.

Why do the Village People support Donald Trump?
In the past, the gang has often distanced itself politically from Donald Trump. However, he himself holds the rights to use “YMCA”, which explains his presence at his events. Victor Willis clarifies that he will not seek to legally object to the use of the song, because although he does not provide political support for Trump, “YMCA” is a song designed for everyone. In another Facebook post, he emphasizes that the band firmly believes that “music should be created independent of politics.” So, the Village People will perform at Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

What are the reactions to the planned Village People show?
In his Facebook announcement post, Victor Willis admits that he knows some of his fans might not like his participation. Many other artists declined the invitation for this event. However, Willis argues that the track “YMCA” is a global anthem that could help bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided election campaign.