President Donald Trump has been a long-time fan of the disco hit Y.M.C.A. by The Village People, often playing it at his rallies and even coming up with his own dance moves for the song. However, according to Trump himself, his wife Melania hates when he dances to the track, which he jokingly calls “the gay national anthem.”
At a recent campaign-style appearance at a conservative retirement community in Florida, Trump told the audience that Melania had begged him to stop dancing to the song. “She hates when I dance, too, at the end. She hates when I dance to what’s sometimes referred to as the gay national anthem. You know that? She hates it.” Trump joked in response that since he was leading by 20 points in the polls, it wasn’t presidential to stop dancing.
According to Mediaite, the song has been a regular part of Trump’s rallies since 2016. Despite its clear association with gay culture, Trump has said he is not using it to provoke liberals, but that it simply reflects who he is. His music choices at rallies are often all over the place and do not fit into any clear political message, which has confused both his supporters and critics.
Trump’s love for Y.M.C.A. goes beyond politics and has become a defining part of his campaign identity
Victor Willis, the frontman of The Village People, initially opposed Trump’s use of the song but later changed his position and gave Trump his blessing. Willis has since said he is grateful for the financial benefits the song’s continued use has brought, and has even thanked Trump for choosing it. Meanwhile, Trump continues to face legal battles on other fronts, as a federal judge looks to dismiss Trump’s $10B IRS lawsuit.
Dr. A Jamie Saris, an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Maynooth University, has noted that the nostalgia at the heart of the MAGA movement tips over into camp, with supporters dressing up as war veterans and Navy Seals, mirroring The Village People’s own fetishization of wholesome and honest ways of life.
The song, originally released in 1978, was written as an anthem for young men seeking community, but it has since taken on a much wider cultural meaning over the decades. Many artists have objected to Trump using their music at his rallies, but Trump has remained unapologetic about his love for Y.M.C.A.
Despite Melania’s pleas to stop dancing, he continues to dance to the disco hit at the end of his events, to the delight of his supporters. For Trump, the song is less about its origins and more about the energy it brings to a crowd, and that, it seems, is all the justification he needs. Professor James Garratt, the author of Music and Politics: A Critical Introduction, has pointed out that Trump’s music choices reveal something real about him, reports BBC.
He said, “Trump’s musical selections (and they do always seem to be his personal selections) tell us a lot about him, since unlike other politicians, he doesn’t seem to care if his choices seem chaotic, random or ideologically inconsistent.”
His unpredictable style extends beyond music, as seen in Trump’s latest warning directed at Iran over stalled nuclear talks. At the end of his recent Florida speech, Trump walked off the stage to Y.M.C.A. with his signature dance moves. Willis has also publicly stated that he is glad he allowed Trump to keep using the song, saying the financial benefits have been significant. Whether Melania approves or not, it is clear that Trump’s use of the song is not going to stop anytime soon.
Published: May 2, 2026 08:30 am