Donald Trump has paid tribute to Village People lead singer Victor Willis – the man behind one of his favourite songs – who has died, aged 74.
According to Trump, Willis, who died following a short illness, “was a great and happy guy who loved that” he used the band’s hit, “YMCA”, at his presidential rallies, more than 30 years on from its release in 1978.
“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!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Over the years, many bands and musicians, including Aerosmith, Adele, Celine Dion, Elton John, Foo Fighters and Guns n' Roses, have asked Trump to stop using their songs at his events.
In 2020, while Willis admitted that the disco classic “benefited greatly” from being played by the president, he claimed that neither he nor his group endorsed Trump, stating: “We have even asked him to stop playing his music at his rallies.”
But the group later changed its tune – and even performed at a pre-inauguration rally when Trump secured his second White House term last year.
Trump said that Willis “loved the action” and, in turn, his team loved the band “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.” Trump sent his condolences to Wallis’s “wonderful family”, adding: “He will be sorely missed, God Bless Him!!!”
News of Willis’s death was announced on the band’s social media accounts, with a post that said: “We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People.
“Victor passed on Monday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested.”
Singer-songwriter Willis was a founding member of the iconic disco group, whose hits include “YMCA”, “Go West” and “In the Navy”.
The group’s name is a nod to Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, the historical heart of New York’s LGBTQ+ scene.
Village People were formed in the late 1970s after Can’t Stop Productions, who had hits in Europe under their belts, decided to try cracking America.
The duo behind the production house discovered Willis via a demo tape and he recorded the first Village People album solo, co-writing a number of the tracks.
When the record proved to be a hit, Can’t Stop Productions recruited dancers to join Willis on the club circuit and the group adopted their character costumes, which play on macho stereotypes, with Willis dressing as a police officer.
After Willis exited the group in 1979, numerous other singers took over his leading role and Village People continued performing with various line-ups.
In 2017, Willis rejoined Village People and hit the road again, with the band bringing their high-energy, disco sets to festivals and Pride events worldwide.
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