The Village People Speak Out About Why They're Performing at Donald Trump Inauguration Events

Mar. 15, 2025

Village People; Donald Trump.Photo:Donato Sardella/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Donato Sardella/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

TheVillage Peopleare set to perform at President-electDonald Trump’s inauguration.

The disco group posted a statement onFacebookon Monday, Jan. 13, defending their decision to participate in the inauguration festivities.

“We are announcing today that VILLAGE PEOPLE have accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump’s campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump,” their statement began.

“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. 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.”

Donald Trump in 2024.Rebecca Noble/Getty

Rebecca Noble/Getty

“Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump,” the band concluded.

Trump, 78, is known to be a Village People fan and has played the 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A.” at rallies and other political events. The song evenplayed during the final moments of his presidencyin January 2021 as he boarded Air Force One.

The band issued acease-and-desistof Trump’s usage of the song in 2023 after the president-elect used another one of their hit songs, “Macho Man,” at aMar-a-Lago event.

Village People in 2024.Bonnie Britain/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty

Bonnie Britain/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty

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Victor Willis, the only original member of Village People remaining in the group, appeared onFox & Friendsin December to discuss the decision to eventually withdraw the cease-and-desist.

“I decided to allow the president-elect’s continued use of ‘Y.M.C.A.’ because he seems to genuinely, genuinely like the song, and so many other artists were stopping him from using their music,” Willis, 73, said.

At the time, Willis also talked about potentially performing at the inauguration, saying, “If he were to ask the Village People to perform the song live for him, we’d have to seriously consider it.”

Village People in 2017.Donato Sardella/Getty

Donato Sardella/Getty

“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,“she said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”

source: people.com