Donald Trump has paid tribute to Village People singer Victor Willis following his recent death.
The U.S. president has honoured the singer-songwriter after he died on Monday at the age of 74.
The Village People announced on social media on Wednesday that their lead singer had died the day before his 75th birthday following “a short but aggressive illness”.
Following the news, Trump, whose fondness for the American disco group is well known, took to his social media platform Truth Social to remember the star.
“Village People singer Victor Willis is dead at 74,” he wrote on Wednesday morning. “He was a great and happy guy who loved that I used his groups song, YMCA, at my Rallies. It became a ‘monster’ hit, again, 30 years after its original launch.”
The 80-year-old continued, “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.”
Trump went on to say that Willis would be remembered every time the Village People classic Y.M.C.A. was played.
He continued, “My condolences to his wonderful family and group, Victor Willis will be sorely missed, God Bless Him!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Y.M.C.A. enjoyed a resurgence after becoming a fixture at Trump’s rallies and campaign events.
Willis, who co-wrote the disco anthem, previously explained that he had initially objected to its use by the campaign. However, Trump’s team had obtained a political use licence from rights organisation BMI and he chose not to withdraw permission.
He wrote in a Facebook post in 2024, “I simply didn’t have the heart to prevent his continued use of my song in the face of so many artists withdrawing his use of their material.”
In another Facebook post, Willis said the song had “benefited greatly” from its association with the campaign, adding that it “finally made it to #1 on a Billboard chart after over 45 years”.
