A founding member of the Village People has received threats and hate mail from Democrats over the band’s decision to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration events.

Felipe Rose, 71, said he had received threatening letters after his former bandmates announced they would sing Y.M.C.A. at balls in Washington to celebrate Mr Trump’s win.

Rose was a member of the band for 40 years, and performed as “the Indian” in the original Y.M.C.A. music video in 1978.

The song has since become a favourite of Mr Trump, who dances to it at his rallies, and the band has been booked for several balls in the lead-up to the inauguration on Monday.

Videos of the president-elect dancing to the song have gone viral on TikTok, and other users have emulated the “Trump dance”, in which he rocks from side to side, while alternating fist-pumps to the beat.