Imagine the White House using a Taylor Swift song in a TikTok video—a song from an artist the former president once publicly criticized. Sounds like a plot twist, right? But that’s exactly what happened when the official White House TikTok account posted a patriotic video featuring President Donald Trump and his administration, set to the tune of Taylor Swift’s chart-topping hit, ‘The Fate of Ophelia’. While the White House frequently shares content on social media, this particular video stood out for its unexpected choice of soundtrack, given Trump’s history of vocal disapproval toward Swift.
And this is the part most people miss: Trump’s feud with Swift dates back to 2024, when the pop star publicly endorsed Kamala Harris during the presidential election. Swift’s endorsement didn’t sit well with Trump, who had previously claimed—falsely—that Swift supported him, even using a doctored image to back his claim. In a Truth Social post earlier this summer, Trump went as far as to declare, ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ followed by a bizarre assertion that her popularity had declined as a result. Spoiler alert: it hadn’t. In fact, Swift’s music sales remained unaffected, proving Trump’s prediction wrong.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Despite Trump’s harsh words, his tone shifted dramatically when Swift announced her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce. In August, Trump praised Kelce as a ‘great player’ and referred to Swift as a ‘terrific person,’ even wishing the couple ‘a lot of luck.’ This sudden change in tone raises questions: Was Trump’s earlier criticism genuine, or was it a calculated move to stir up attention? And why would the White House now use Swift’s music in a video, given this complicated history?
In her endorsement of Harris, Swift wrote a heartfelt statement, calling the former vice president a ‘steady-handed, gifted leader’ who fights for causes Swift deeply believes in. She emphasized the need for calm leadership over chaos—a subtle yet pointed critique of Trump’s presidency. When Variety reached out for comment, a White House official responded with a cheeky jab: ‘We made this video because we knew fake news media brands like Variety would breathlessly amplify them. Congrats, you got played.’ Swift’s representatives, meanwhile, remained silent on the matter.
Here’s the bigger question: Is this TikTok video a genuine attempt to connect with younger audiences, or is it a strategic move to reclaim cultural relevance? And what does it say about the intersection of politics and pop culture? Let’s be honest—this isn’t just about a song choice; it’s about the messy, often contradictory relationship between public figures and the narratives they try to control. What do you think? Is the White House’s use of Swift’s music a clever play or a tone-deaf misstep? Sound off in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark some heated opinions.
