Donald Trump inauguration 2025: Incoming president secures disco icons Village People for celebration

In one of the most unlikely pairings of Donald Trump’s political career, the Village People are to perform at his inauguration on next week.

The disco band’s 1978 anthem came to define Mr Trump’s campaign rallies, and he became famous for shimmying along to the song while pumping his fists.

They had urged him to stop using their music – including the 1991 song Macho Man – during his first term in 2020.

But now, despite the defeat of their choice for the White House, Kamala Harris, they claim they have decided to put politics aside for the sake of unity.

Victor Willis, 73, its frontman and original singer, said: “We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear, however we believe music is to be performed without regard to politics.

“YMCA is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost.”

Mr Trump’s use of YMCA on the campaign trail helped the song hit No 1 the week after his presidential election victory.

Willis said the band had “benefited greatly”, adding that the President-elect “seems to genuinely like YMCA and he’s having a lot of fun with it”.

Other stars set to perform at the inauguration on Tuesday include country music favourite Carrie Underwood who will sing America the Beautiful, accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club.

“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,” Underwood said in a statement.

“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.”

Opera singer Christopher Macchio will perform the national anthem.