Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images
Donald Trump is asserting that his penchant for dancing to the Village People’s classic hit, “Y.M.C.A.,” played a pivotal role in the song’s remarkable resurgence on the Billboard charts.
During a public address at The Villages, a Florida retirement community, on Friday, May 1, the president attributed the 1970s anthem’s climb to the top of Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart in late 2024—over four decades after its debut—directly to his own promotional efforts.
“That song reached No. 5 some 32 years ago, and it hit No. 1 32 years later,” Trump incorrectly claimed during his speech. “It held the No. 1 spot for months throughout the final stretch of the campaign.”
The iconic disco track, which Trump has openly referred to as the “gay national anthem,” became a staple at his 2024 campaign rallies. In November of that year, the song secured the No. 1 position on the Top Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart for two consecutive weeks. For historical context, “Y.M.C.A.” originally peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 following its 1978 release.
By December 2024, Village People frontman Victor Willis explained his decision to permit the use of the song at Trump’s events. While Willis had initially requested that the campaign cease using his music in 2020, he had a change of heart, observing that the president appeared to genuinely enjoy the track. In a detailed Facebook post from late 2024, Willis noted that the song’s commercial performance and chart standing had “benefited greatly” from the association.
“Consequently, I am pleased that I authorized the President-Elect to continue utilizing ‘Y.M.C.A.,’” Willis stated, adding, “I appreciate him selecting my composition.”
During his Friday remarks, Trump also shared that his wife, Melania, is not particularly fond of his onstage choreography. “She absolutely despises it when I dance to what some people call the gay national anthem,” he admitted. “She really doesn’t like it.”
He continued, “We both love the song. But Melania will say, ‘Darling, please.’ She is an incredibly elegant woman. She’ll say, ‘Darling, please don’t dance; it isn’t presidential.’ And I tell her, ‘It might not be presidential, but I’m leading in the polls by 20 points, or something of that nature.’”
Trump concluded his appearance by reprising his signature routine—complete with rhythmic hip shakes and fist pumps—as “Y.M.C.A.” played over the loudspeakers to bring his Florida speech to a close.
