Donald Trump is set to become the seventh member of the iconic disco group, the Village People. The announcement came as the band performed at Trump's "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" on Sunday. The show included a lively rendition of their classic hit "Y.M.C.A." and saw Trump dancing with the band to their 1970s anthem.
The rally, held to celebrate Trump's anticipated return to the presidency, featured Victor Willis, the sole remaining member of the original Village People lineup. Despite some members of the original lineup identifying as queer, Willis himself identifies as straight. He has consistently rejected interpretations of songs like "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man" as "gay anthems."
"There's been a lot of talk, especially of late, that 'Y.M.C.A.' is somehow a gay anthem. As I've said numerous times in the past, that is a false assumption based on the fact that my writing partner was gay, and some (not all) of Village People were gay, and that the first Village People album was totally about gay life." – Victor Willis
Willis maintains that the band's music transcends political boundaries and should be enjoyed by all. He expressed his belief that music should not be restricted by politics, stating:
"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." – Victor Willis
Despite backlash from some quarters over their performance at Trump's rally, Willis clarified that their appearance did not equate to political endorsement.
"our performances are not an [endorsement] of the President Elect's policies no matter what you say to the contrary." – Victor Willis
Willis also speculated on how different political outcomes might have affected their opportunities. He noted that if Kamala Harris had won, they might not have been invited to perform at her inauguration.
"But here's the sad truth, if our preferred candidate (Kamala Harris), had won, Village People would never have been invited to perform at her inauguration. She would have chosen the likes of John Legend and Beyoncé, etc." – Victor Willis
The rally was a star-studded event with Kid Rock taking the stage to perform several songs and Lee Greenwood singing "God Bless the U.S.A." as Trump took the stage.
The band closed out the event with their upbeat performance, which included Trump joining them in dancing to "Y.M.C.A."
In response to criticism, Willis took to Facebook to address concerns and reiterate his position on music's role beyond political lines.
Meanwhile, as preparations for the upcoming inauguration continue, Carrie Underwood is set to perform "America the Beautiful" alongside the Armed Forces Chorus and United States Naval Academy Glee Club. Underwood expressed her honor in being part of the event.
"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. 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." – Carrie Underwood
