Trump Played “YMCA” In Saudi Arabia And We Just Can’t
Well, you might want to sit down for this one, because the news causing ripples this week is quite something. Reports are surfacing that US President Donald Trump, during a visit to Saudi Arabia, chose the Village People’s iconic YMCA as his closing music after a speech. Yes, you read that right.
🚨 BREAKING: In a surreal and frankly humiliating moment, Donald Trump just fell asleep during his own briefing in Saudi Arabia.
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) May 13, 2025
This isn’t jet lag — it’s a walking security risk with a nap schedule.
The man who calls himself “sharp as ever” couldn’t even stay conscious. pic.twitter.com/bpqOeCIvpr
In a nation where being LGBTQIA+ can be a death sentence.
The sheer audacity has certainly got people talking. Saudi Arabia’s stance on LGBTQIA+ rights is notoriously severe, with Sharia Law strictly forbidding same-sex relations and any gender expression outside the binary. Censorship around queer topics is rife.
So, to have a song so deeply ingrained in global queer culture, a track that’s a staple at Pride celebrations everywhere, played in that setting? It is a choice that has left many, including us here at DNA, raising more than just an eyebrow. What message was he trying to send, if any?
BREAKING: After Donald Trump had a 50-foot banner of himself hung from the Dept of Agriculture building, right next to Abraham Lincoln – 3 more banners have mysteriously appeared. pic.twitter.com/cRJsQ3fPWK
— PaulleyTicks (@PaulleyTicks) May 15, 2025
Is It Ours or Just a Catchy Tune?
Of course, YMCA has long been celebrated by the gay male community. Its 1970s origins, with openly gay co-writer Jacques Morali and several gay band members (like Felipe Rose and Randy Jones), plus its nod to New York’s queer-coded Greenwich Village, cemented its place in LGBTQIA+ history. The lyrics themselves have often been interpreted as an ode to gay cruising and community.
However, it is worth noting that Village People’s lead singer, Victor Willis, has disputed the song’s exclusive connection to the LGBTQIA+ community. He has reportedly said in the past that such interpretations are “damaging to the song” and urged people to get their “minds out of the gutter,” as Pink News once reported.
He maintains that while some involved were gay, the song itself wasn’t written as a specifically gay anthem. This ongoing debate adds another layer to its recent reported use in Riyadh.
A Familiar Tune in Unfamiliar Territory
President Trump has used YMCA frequently at his rallies and public appearances over the years, so the song choice itself is not new for him. But the location this time has amplified the reactions significantly. The decision to play it in Saudi Arabia, especially now, has many questioning the intent and the awareness behind it.
This isn’t the first time the Village People’s music has been linked with political controversy. The band previously faced backlash from some quarters for performing at Trump’s 2017 inauguration, though they defended it as music bringing people together.
With this latest reported incident, the questions resurface. Was it a deliberate provocation, a simple oversight, or just a president playing a favourite song without considering the deeper implications in such a high-stakes environment? Whatever the reason, it’s certainly turned up the volume on discussions worldwide.
