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The disco group Village People has announced their participation in President-elect Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration festivities, acknowledging that the decision might not sit well with some fans. In a Facebook post on January 13, 2025, the band emphasized that music transcends politics and expressed hopes that their global hit Y.M.C.A. would help unite a divided nation.
"We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear; however, we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics."
They added that Y.M.C.A. is a "global anthem" and expressed hope it could foster unity after a contentious campaign.
"Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost."
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Village People's inaugural plans and complicated relationship with Trump
The band's preferred candidate, reportedly Vice President Kamala Harris, had lost the election, according to Salon. Despite this, they decided to perform at multiple events tied to Trump's inauguration, including a "victory rally" scheduled for January 19, 2025, and an eve ball organized by Turning Point USA the same day.
Trump has famously used Y.M.C.A. at his rallies, often performing the so-called "Trump dance" to the song. The dance, characterized by pumping both fists back and forth, gained traction among supporters and even athletes like soccer captain Christian Pulisic and NFL player Nick Bosa, who adopted it as a celebratory gesture. However, Village People's relationship with Trump has been complicated.
As reported by Indy100, in June 2020, founding member Victor Willis demanded Trump cease using their music after the then-president threatened to deploy military force against protestors. Later that year, the band chose not to take legal action, with Willis stating he didn't want to act out of spite.
The controversy reignited in 2023 when Village People's manager and Willis' wife, Karen Willis, issued a cease-and-desist letter over a Mar-a-Lago performance by impersonators dressed as the band. By October 2024, Willis had softened his stance, citing the song's renewed popularity as a reason to let its use continue. The exposure, he noted, had "greatly benefited" Y.M.C.A. on the charts.
Trump's second inauguration, set for January 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol, will also feature performances by country music star Carrie Underwood, who will sing America the Beautiful, and other acts like Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, and Billy Ray Cyrus. Opera singer Christopher Macchio is slated to perform the National Anthem.
As ABC News reported on January 14, Carrie Underwood shared that she felt:
"humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future," .
Known for hits like Y.M.C.A. and Macho Man, Village People has significantly impacted the music scene since the late 1970s.
Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration is scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The ceremony will commence at 12:00 pm Eastern Time, coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to The Sunday Times.
