Village People Gives Trump OK To Use Their Music

NBC News reports:

Village People, the American disco group behind the hits “YMCA,” “Macho Man” and “In the Navy,” has given the go-ahead for President Donald Trump to plays its songs at events, despite being “inundated” with requests from fans urging the band to block the president’s use of the music.

Trump most recently played Village People’s 1978 track “Macho Man,” a song that is widely considered a gay anthem, as he entered a rally in Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, on Monday. He has been playing the song at rallies since at least 2018.

Their full statement via Facebook:

TO OUR FANS: We have received numerous requests demanding that we prevent or ban President Donald Trump’s use of our songs, particularly “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man.” With the latest use of “Macho Man” in India, we are being inundated and can no longer remain silent.

Since our music is not being used for a specific endorsement, the President’s use is “perfect[ly]” legal. He has remained respectful in his use of our songs and has not crossed the line; if he or any other candidate were to use any of our songs in a manner that would suggest our endorsement, or in a promotional advertisement, that would cross the line.

Like millions of Village People fans worldwide, the President and his supporters have shown a genuine like for our music.

Our music is all-inclusive and certainly everyone is entitled to do the YMCA dance, regardless of their political affiliation. Having said that, we certainly don’t endorse his use as we’d prefer our music be kept out of politics.