Victor Willis of the Village People has publicly thanked Donald Trump for playing "Y.M.C.A." at his rallies, citing significant financial and chart success due to the exposure. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and held the position for two weeks during Trump's campaign use.

Initially, Willis received numerous complaints about Trump's use of the song but ultimately decided not to withdraw the BMI political use license. He acknowledged that Trump's campaign had legally obtained the rights to use the song and appeared to genuinely enjoy it.

The songwriter also addressed the song's cultural interpretation, stating that "Y.M.C.A." was not originally written as a gay anthem. Willis clarified that he wrote 100% of the lyrics without any knowledge of YMCA facilities being gay gathering spots, and his co-writer Jacques Morali (who was gay) never influenced the lyrics' meaning.

However, the song's cultural impact has evolved beyond its original intent. Like Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men," "Y.M.C.A." has been embraced by gay culture regardless of its original meaning. This demonstrates how audiences can shape a song's cultural significance independently of its creator's intentions.

The financial impact of Trump's usage has been substantial, with the song estimated to gross several million dollars during this period. Willis's French partners initially considered legal action but backed off after Willis asserted his decision-making authority over the song's use in U.S. political campaigns.

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