Taylor Swift songs were removed from social media videos posted by the White House and Donald Trump’s campaign after the administration used the pop star’s music in several promotional clips. According to a Reuters report, the removals follow a pattern of the Trump campaign utilizing Swift’s discography despite the singer’s previous public opposition to Trump.
White House and Campaign Use of Taylor Swift Music
The Trump campaign recently posted a TikTok video featuring a series of captions that played on Swift’s lyrics to reference political themes. The post included phrases like “Red (Donald Trump’s Version)” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (The Biden Harris Administration),” according to Reuters.
This was not an isolated incident. In June, the campaign shared a TikTok video featuring the song “I Knew It, I Knew You” from a “Toy Story 5” project, showing Trump interacting with children and appearing at rallies. The video was captioned, “Nobody loves our country & the American People more than @President Donald J Trump.”
The White House also integrated Swift’s music into official content. In April, a video featuring the Artemis II crew meeting with Trump used the song “High Infidelity.” Additionally, a November TikTok video utilized “The Fate of Ophelia” from the album “The Life of a Showgirl,” pairing the music with images of the U.S. flag and Trump’s 2023 arrest mugshot.
Did you know? A White House spokesperson told news outlets that the November video featuring “The Fate of Ophelia” was created because the administration knew news outlets “would breathlessly amplify them.”
Political Friction and Artist Pushback
The use of this music occurs amid a documented history of animosity between Swift and Trump. Swift endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024 and previously stated in 2020 that Trump was “WELL AWARE we do not want him as our president,” according to Reuters.
Trump has responded to Swift’s political stance with public criticism. On social media, he wrote, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” and later questioned if she was “no longer ‘HOT'” after his criticism, according to reported social media posts.
Swift is not the only musician protesting this usage. Reuters reports that dozens of artists, including Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, have called on the Trump administration not to use their songs.
Broad Social Media Strategy
The Trump communications team employs a wide array of hit songs to soundtrack political messaging. According to Reuters, these videos often accompany footage of U.S. military operations against Iran, immigration crackdowns, and the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Taylor Swift’s songs removed from the Trump campaign videos?
Which Taylor Swift songs were used by the White House?
According to Reuters, the administration used “High Infidelity” in an Artemis II video and “The Fate of Ophelia” in a TikTok featuring the U.S. flag and Trump’s mugshot.
Has Taylor Swift officially responded to these specific videos?
A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the recent removals, according to Reuters.
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