Victor Willis, a founding member of the Village People, has reversed his stance on President-elect Donald Trump's use of their hit song "Y.M.C.A." during his campaign. In a recent interview on "Fox & Friends First," Willis explained his change of heart, citing Trump's apparent genuine enjoyment of the song and the widespread joy it brought to people.
Willis had previously asked Trump to cease using "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man" at rallies, expressing the group's preference to keep their music out of politics. However, he has now instructed Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) not to terminate Trump's political use license for the song. He attributes the song's recent return to the top of the Billboard charts after 46 years to the president-elect.
Trump's use of "Y.M.C.A." became a viral sensation during the 2024 campaign, spreading across social media and even into the sports world. While Willis acknowledged concerns about endorsing a political figure, he admitted that the band would seriously consider performing "Y.M.C.A." live for Trump at the inauguration if asked, given the renewed popularity the song has gained. Although he currently leans against a performance due to endorsement implications, the president-elect's impact on the song's resurgence has made it a possibility.
