Donald Trump’s White House Uses Taylor Swift Song After Months of Public Feud—Because Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows
Here’s something nobody saw coming: The White House just posted a TikTok video soundtracked by Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia.” Yes, you read that right. The same White House run by Donald Trump, who literally posted “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT” in all caps on Truth Social just months ago.
If you’re confused, you’re not alone. This is the same guy who spent considerable time and energy trashing Swift after she endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. But apparently, someone in the administration decided her music was perfect for a patriotic montage featuring Trump, Melania, J.D. Vance, and Usha Vance.
The video itself is… something. It starts with Trump’s 2023 mugshot paired with the lyrics “Don’t care where the hell you have been,” then transitions to him kissing the American flag with “Cause now you’re mine” playing in the background. There’s even a shot of Trump at McDonald’s with text that reads “The fate of America”—a creative twist on the song’s actual title.
A Timeline of Trump vs. Swift
To understand just how weird this moment is, let’s recap the drama. Last year, Trump shared AI-generated images making it look like Swift endorsed him. She didn’t. In fact, she publicly called him out and threw her support behind Harris, praising the Vice President as “a steady-handed, gifted leader.”
Trump’s response? Pure salt. He claimed Swift would lose popularity and see her music sales tank because of the endorsement. Spoiler alert: Neither of those things happened. Swift’s latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” hit No. 1 and stayed there for a month straight.
Then came the Super Bowl drama. After Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in February, Trump couldn’t resist taking a shot: “I was there along with Taylor Swift. How did that work out?”
But here’s where it gets interesting. When Swift and Kelce announced their engagement in August, Trump suddenly softened his tone. He called Kelce “a great player” and Swift “a terrific person,” wishing them “a lot of luck.” Classic Trump—never one to hold a grudge when there’s positive press to be had.
Why Would They Use Her Song?
When Variety asked the White House for comment, they got this gem of a response: “We made this video because we knew fake news media brands like Variety would breathlessly amplify them. Congrats, you got played.”
So basically, they’re admitting they used Swift’s song purely for attention. And you know what? It worked. The video racked up over 603,000 likes and sparked thousands of comments debating whether this was a peace offering, a troll move, or just plain tone-deaf.
Swift’s team hasn’t responded to requests for comment, which is probably the smartest move. Why get dragged into whatever this is?
The Bigger Picture
This whole situation highlights something fascinating about modern politics and celebrity culture. Trump has never been shy about his feelings—good or bad—toward celebrities. But when it comes to using popular music for political messaging, apparently all bets are off.
Swift has spent years building her brand around authenticity and standing up for what she believes in. Her endorsement of Harris wasn’t just a casual Instagram story; it was a carefully worded statement about fighting for “the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s relationship with pop culture has always been transactional. He’ll praise someone one day and tear them down the next, depending on what serves his interests at the moment.
What Happens Next?
Swift is reportedly planning a “lavish Gilded Age-themed” wedding to Kelce, so she’s probably got bigger things on her mind than White House TikToks. But this incident raises questions about artists’ control over how their music gets used for political purposes.
The irony here is almost poetic. Swift endorsed Trump’s opponent, he publicly declared he hated her, and now his administration is using her music to promote his image. It’s the kind of plot twist that would feel too on-the-nose in a political satire.
One thing’s certain: This won’t be the last time we see politicians trying to co-opt popular culture, even when those celebrities have made their opposition crystal clear. Whether it’s strategic genius or spectacularly bad judgment probably depends on which side of the aisle you’re sitting on.
