Donald Trump paid tribute to Victor Willis, the frontman of the Village People, who died on Monday.
The Village People’s song Y.M.C.A. enjoyed a resurgence after it was used at Trump’s rallies. Willis, who was co-writer of the song, said that he initially objected to the campaign’s use of the song, but Trump’s team had obtained a political use license from rights organization BMI. But he ultimately did not withdraw permission, writing on Facebook in 2024, “I simply didn’t have the heart to prevent his continued use of my song in the face of so many artists withdrawing his use of their material.”
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday morning, “Village People singer Victor Willis is dead at 74. He was a great and happy guy who loved that I used his groups song, YMCA, at my Rallies. It became a “monster” hit, again, 30 years after its original launch. Many singers and groups wanted to get on board at the Rallies after all of the Rally Attendance Records were set – The crowds were, and are, enormous – But Victor and the group was there for us right from the beginning! They loved the action, and we loved them and their great and uplifting song. We will think of Victor every time YMCA is played, like today, and all throughout this July Fourth Birthday week. My condolences to his wonderful family and group, Victor Willis will be sorely missed, God Bless Him!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Willis wrote on Facebook in 2024 that Y.M.C.A. “has benefited greatly from use by the President Elect. For example, Y.M.C.A. was stuck at #2 on the Billboard chart prior to the President Elect’s use. However, the song finally made it to #1 on a Billboard chart after over 45 years (and held on to #1 for two weeks) due to the President Elect’s use.” Willis co-wrote the song with Jacques Morali, who died in 1991.
He added, “The financial benefits have been great as well as Y.M.C.A. is estimated to gross several million dollars since the President Elect’s continued use of the song. Therefore, I’m glad I allowed the President Elect’s continued use of Y.M.C.A. And I thank him for choosing to use my song.”
Willis also wrote that it was a “false assumption” that the song was a gay anthem, denying interpretations of its lyrics. He threatened to sue news outlets that stated that it was, but wrote that “I don’t mind that gays think of the song as their anthem.”
The song was recently played at Trump’s rally last week to open the Great American State Fair.
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