A key component of President Donald Trump's infamous campaign rallies are the music choices that bookend the President's speech.
From classic songs of superficial patriotism like Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American" to more questionable choices like the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," the rally playlists almost always generate a variety of strong reactions—even from the artists who sung them.
One of the artists most exhaustively used at these rallies is the Village People, who sing Trump rally mainstays like "YMCA" and "Macho Man."
In the Disco era, YMCA locker rooms were a popular male cruising spot. "YMCA" is seen as the gay vocal group's ode to the pre-AIDS, post-Stonewall era of sexual liberation among gay men in the 70s, often known as the cruising era.
In other words, the song that the President's supporters gleefully dance to at Trump's rallies is about gay sex.
Similarly, "Macho Man" evokes a number of homoerotic themes including muscle worship and the fetishization of masculinity.
Meanwhile, Trump—and by extension, his supporters—have repeatedly fought against the expansion of LGBTQ rights throughout the President's first term.
That might give some insight into why CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, an out gay man, made this face upon hearing the song at the President's rally in Florida on Monday night.
Watch below.
Anderson Cooper's face when he hears they are playing “Macho Man" at @realDonaldTrump 's rally. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/1SK23Z6yeR
— Jonah Rodriguez (@BookofJonah) October 13, 2020
When told that "Macho Man" was blaring, Cooper pursed his lips and appeared to suppress a laugh.
People totally related.
Anderson Cooper is all of us. https://t.co/A1rIhswrgN
— Bob Geiger (@GeigerNews) October 13, 2020
Haha. “Thanks, enjoy Macho Man." Straight people, come on. Y'all we're laughing at you. https://t.co/SF71DObKlV
— Eric Lesh (@EDLesh) October 13, 2020
We are all Anderson Cooper. https://t.co/j31yKOIWzj
— Nate Pentz (@natepentz) October 13, 2020
We are all in the same simulation that is melting down https://t.co/ssgCUP7UdJ
— Sierra🌵 (@sierra_917) October 13, 2020
Lol! We all felt that way. https://t.co/1BMDm9c1kR
— Terri Turner (@TTYoMomma) October 13, 2020
People across the internet found the moment hilarious.
🤣🤣🤣 He was trying so hard not to lose it https://t.co/sUexBKTmkk
— Ryan Ⓥ (@RyanKendrickYT) October 13, 2020
This is legit very funny. https://t.co/VqaxTQ6DNR
— George White (@thegeorgewhite) October 13, 2020
This needs to be in The Smithsonian.... https://t.co/rFM9S7N0d0
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) October 13, 2020
this is an oscar award winning performance on anderson's part I am screaming https://t.co/5nO1U0QBkn
— Becca Barrett (she/her) (@beccaebarrett) October 13, 2020
The Village People have spoken out against Trump using their music.
