Former President Donald Trump took credit for bringing the disco classic "Y.M.C.A." back into the spotlight, suggesting his signature dance moves revitalized the song's popularity.
Speaking at an event in The Villages, a retirement community in Florida, on Friday, Trump highlighted the song's resurgence, implying that his energetic performances at rallies were the driving force behind its comeback. "I think I made 'Y.M.C.A.' popular again," he told the crowd, drawing cheers from supporters.
The Village People's 1978 hit, often considered a gay anthem, has become a staple at Trump's political events, where he sways and pumps his fists along to the tune. While the song had already experienced a revival in pop culture through film and television, Trump's embrace of it has introduced it to a new generation of fans — and sparked debate over its meaning.
Critics have pointed out the irony of Trump, whose administration had a controversial record on LGBTQ+ rights, adopting a song associated with gay culture. But supporters see it as a unifying, feel-good anthem that transcends politics. Either way, the track has seen a significant bump in streaming numbers and chart performance since Trump began featuring it at his rallies. The former president's claim, while likely hyperbolic, reflects his knack for leveraging nostalgia and showmanship to connect with his base.