President Donald Trump honored the late Village People singer Victor Willis on Wednesday, stating that the disco icon’s hit song “Y.M.C.A.” will now have a deeper significance for him.
Willis, the group’s lead singer and co-writer of “Y.M.C.A.,” passed away following what was described as a brief but severe illness. He was seventy-four.
Willis was a “great and happy guy,” according to Trump, who also acknowledged that the Village People classic became a rally staple during his political ascent.
The president declared that each time he hears the song, Willis will come to mind.
Trump also said Willis and the Village People were “there for us right from the beginning … they loved the action, and we loved them and their uplifting song.”
The song became one of Trump’s most recognizable campaign-trail anthems, with the president frequently dancing to it at rallies and major political events.
Trump said he helped turn “Y.M.C.A.” into a “monster” hit again by playing it before massive crowds at his events.
Long after the disco era was over, the group remained a mainstay of popular culture thanks to his powerful vocals and police-officer stage persona.
Trump embraced “Y.M.C.A.” on the campaign trail recently, giving it new life and making it an unexpected soundtrack for MAGA rallies.
“He was a great and happy guy who loved that I used his group’s song, YMCA, at my Rallies. It became a ‘monster’ hit, again, 30 years after its original launch. 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! They loved the action, and we loved them 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. My condolences to his wonderful family and group, Victor Willis will be sorely missed, God Bless Him!!!” Trump wrote in his full post.
Trump’s post on Truth Social can be seen below:
Additionally, Willis defended the Village People’s performance at President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration celebrations, calling it apolitical at the time.
Trump offered his condolences to Willis’ family as he concluded his tribute.
The Village People’s official Facebook posted, “We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People. Victor passed on Tuesday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested.”
Karen Huff Willis, his wife, posted online, “It is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of my husband, VICTOR WILLIS. Victor passed away on Tuesday June 30, 2026 as a result of a short, but aggressive illness. The family request privacy at this time of great loss.”
Genius, a music platform, wrote on X, “Victor willis, the original lead singer and co-founder of village people, best known for timeless hits like ‘y.m.c.a.’ and ‘macho man,’ has died at the age of 74. We’re sending our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.”
As the Village People’s lead singer and co-writer of “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man,” “In the Navy,” and “Go West,” among others, Willis helped establish disco in the late Seventies.
The unstoppable “Y.M.C.A.,” whose interactive dance helped it reach Number Two on both the dance and pop charts, was one of the Village People’s six gold and four platinum records at their height.
They quickly rose to prominence as disco ambassadors, selling out concerts and making appearances on talk shows.
According to reports at the time, they had sold over 20 million singles and 18 million albums globally.
