As we’ve reported, the “Trump Dance” has taken the country—and even the world—by storm, as athletes are doing it for celebrations, supporters are spontaneously breaking into it at restaurants, and folks are posting videos of themselves boogying to social media by the thousands.
Advertisement
The song that inspired Trump’s dance moves is, of course, the Village People’s 1978 hit, “Y.M.C.A.” Although the song has remained popular throughout the years, often played at weddings and parties where revelers form the letters with their arms in unison to the lyrics, it is now enjoying a resurgence—and sent the catchy tune straight to the top of the charts.
YMCA has topped the charts 40 [sic] years after its release thanks to an online dance sensation started by Donald Trump…
YMCA shot up the Billboard dance/electronic sales chart as polling day approached on Nov 5, and finally hit number one following Mr Trump’s victory the week of Nov 17.
Victor Willis, the lead singer of the Village People who once asked the president-elect to stop playing their music, said he used to think Mr Trump would tire of the song. “But that never happened,” he added.
Mr Trump’s rigid dance moves, which generally involves waving his arms above his head and pumping his fist, has prompted imitators from across social media and sport.
It’s everywhere:
Trump Made the NFL Great Again!
Players went from kneeling to doing the Trump dance. pic.twitter.com/VRGpB9Rijw
— Trent Leisy (@realTrentLeisy) November 17, 2024
Some members of Trump’s family are getting in on the trend:
President-elect Donald Trump’s granddaughter Kai shared a video of herself doing her grandfather’s ‘Y.M.C.A.’ dance onboard his private jet.
Kai, 17, shared the clip of herself and her friend on her TikTok account Sunday (November 24), which was accompanied by The Village… pic.twitter.com/nikgwHi5J0
— Gina Bordeaux (@GinaBordeaux) November 25, 2024
Advertisement
The band at one point tried to stop Trump from using the song, but in the end, they decided not to kill the joy. I bet their wallets are glad they did:
He [lead singer Victor Willis] said he eventually decided not to cancel the Trump campaign’s licence which allowed it to play YMCA “because by that time I started noticing some very good things started happening”. When YMCA hit number one this month, he high-fived his wife.
Argentinian President Javier Milei joined in on the fun at a recent visit to Mar-a-Lago:
Mar-a-Lago: President Javier Milei did the Trump dance to Y.M.C.A. when he was introduced at CPAC’s Investors Summit. pic.twitter.com/OLJzxFUlcb
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) November 15, 2024
Although the song is considered by many to be a “gay anthem,” that’s not actually what its co-writer intended.
But Village People’s straight Black lead singer Victor Willis — who dressed as the group’s policeman and co-wrote the song with the band’s straight producer Henri Belolo and its gay producer Jacques Morali — told News Corp Australia in 2017 that the song was actually inspired by Willis’ youth spent watching his friends playing basketball at a New York City YMCA.
“‘YMCA’ was not written to be a gay song because of the simple fact I’m not gay,” Willis said. “I wanted to write a song that could fit anyone’s lifestyle.”
Advertisement
Good times: Video of Trump Dance Bringing the Joy Back to America Going Viral: ‘Make America Fun Again’
Letting Their Freak Flags Fly: More and More Secret Trump Voters Revealing Themselves
It’s turning up in some unexpected places:
Happy Thanksgiving, America 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/FteTcixsZG
— Matt Couch (@RealMattCouch) November 28, 2024
Happy Thanksgiving, RedState readers! I’m that much more thankful this year now that we have some sanity in the House, the Senate, and the Oval Office. I bet the Village People are also feeling pretty grateful this year.
We’re getting ready to sit down for the feast out here on the Left Coast, and I may just have to start the proceedings with a little Trump dance.
