Village People Issues Statement After Agreeing to Perform at Donald Trump's Inauguration

Village People wants fans to know the real reason they are performing at Donald Trump's inauguration next week.

After the disco group was revealed to be among the artists performing during the president-elect's inauguration activities, they issued a statement on social media to explain the decision.

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A statement posted to the group's Facebook page on Monday, Jan. 13, read: "We are announcing today that VILLAGE PEOPLE have accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump's campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump."

"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," the group stated. "Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost," they added, referencing current vice president Kamala Harris.

"Therefore, we believe it's now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump."

Trump, who will be sworn in on Monday, Jan. 20, has been known to play the group's 1978 smash hit "Y.M.C.A." at various political events, including several of his campaign rallies in the past.

Original member of the Village People Victor Willis previously condemned Trump's use of the band's music, asking him via Facebook back in 2020 to discontinue use of both "Y.M.C.A." and their song "Macho Man."

However, Willis later changed his tune during the most recent election stating in December 2024, telling Fox & Friends First that Trump "seemed to be bringing so much joy to the American people with his use of Y.M.C.A."

"I decided to allow the president-elect's continued use of ‘Y.M.C.A.’ because he seems to genuinely, genuinely like the song and so many other artists were stopping him from using their music," he also stated.

At the time, Willis admitted that the band would "probably" refuse the offer to perform at the inauguration over fears that it might be mistaken as an endorsement.

"However, because the president-elect has done so much for ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and brought so much joy to so many people, the song has actually gone back to No. 1, and it's still No. 1 today, so if he were to ask the Village People to perform the song live for him, we'd have to seriously consider it," he added.

Now, Village People are among those expected to perform at the inauguration activities, along with Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean and more.

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