Showing off his new big tent, the returning president played circus master to a strange kind of union. Sign up for Trump’s Return, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump presidency.

The Village People’s appearance at the Trump rally underscores his political comeback, even among his one-time nemeses—its manager Karen Willis, wife of band member Victor Willis, sent Trump’s lawyer a cease-and-desist letter after he was filmed dancing to “Macho Man” at Mar-A-Lago in 2023, Rolling Stone reported.

The president-elect hosted the “Make American Great Again Victory Rally” at Washington’s Capital One Arena on Sunday, less than 24 hours before Inauguration Day. As Trump ended his final speech before taking the White House for a second term, the band Village People came on stage to perform their 1978 disco hit “Y.M.C.A.” live.

As the rally wrapped up, Trump danced and clapped along to the Village People’s 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A.,” a song frequently played at his campaign rallies. Smiling, he stood behind the group, delivering his trademark moves while the crowd cheered.

I spent the night searching for a monumental TV or pop culture moment. I… did not find that. But what if what I uncovered instead was more interesting?

Donald Trump promised to get sworn in along with his supporters and welcomed Village People to perform "Y.M.C.A" the night before his inauguration.

The modern-day Village People has 'nothing to do with the group that I was a part of', ex-member Jim Newman said after the band performed at a number of Trump’s inaugural events