AC/DC’s Raunchy Christmas Song Was Inspired by Donald

Most people associate Donald Trump with reality television, real estate, and of course, the presidency. But there’s another footnote in his cultural legacy that often goes unnoticed: he once served as the muse for an AC/DC song.

The track in question is “Mistress for Christmas,” a deep cut from the band’s 1990 album The Razor’s Edge. And yes, according to Angus Young himself, it was written with Trump in mind.

How a New York Scandal Reached Australia

Back in 1990, Trump wasn’t a political figure, he was a flashy Manhattan developer known for slapping his name on skyscrapers and making headlines for his personal life. That year, news broke that his marriage to Ivana Trump was falling apart amid reports of an affair with Marla Maples, a model who would later become his second wife.

The story was everywhere. Tabloids couldn’t get enough of it. And apparently, neither could the members of AC/DC.

While putting together The Razor’s Edge, the band caught wind of the drama unfolding across the Atlantic. The image of a rich, high-profile figure juggling romances during the holiday season struck them as absurd—and ripe for satire.

Angus Young Spills the Beans

In a Guitar World interview, Angus Young was refreshingly direct about where the song came from. He admitted the band wrote it about Trump, explaining that the mogul dominated the news cycle at the time and seemed like fair game for some musical ribbing.

Young also made clear the band wasn’t trying to craft anything serious. He called it the most comedic song on the record—just the guys blowing off steam and poking fun at celebrity excess.

What the Song Actually Sounds Like

Musically, the track is pure AC/DC: loud guitars, pounding drums, and Brian Johnson belting out lyrics with his trademark rasp. But layered on top are sleigh bells and references to the holiday season, giving the whole thing a festive (if irreverent) feel.

The lyrics imagine someone with more money than restraint, dreaming up indulgent holiday wishes that have nothing to do with peace on earth or goodwill toward men. It’s crass, it’s funny, and it’s clearly not meant to be taken seriously.

Why You’ve Probably Never Heard It

Despite appearing on one of AC/DC’s best-selling albums, “Mistress for Christmas” has remained a curiosity rather than a classic. The band has never performed it live, and it tends to get overshadowed by the record’s bigger hits.

Still, it’s developed a cult following among fans who appreciate its audacity. And with Trump remaining a constant presence in American life, the song has taken on an almost surreal quality—a novelty track from the early ’90s that now feels like a strange piece of historical trivia.

A Reminder of Trump’s Pre-Political Fame

For younger audiences, it can be hard to imagine Trump as anything other than a political lightning rod. But for decades, he was simply a celebrity—someone famous for being wealthy, brash, and perpetually in the gossip pages.

AC/DC captured that version of Trump in a three-minute hard rock joke. It’s not their most important song, but it might be their weirdest footnote—and a reminder that pop culture has been reckoning with Trump for far longer than most people realize.