Hold on to your hats, Swifties and political junkies! The White House recently dropped a TikTok video featuring President Donald Trump and his administration, but here's the twist: it's soundtracked by none other than Taylor Swift's hit, "The Fate of Ophelia." Now, why is this a big deal? Well, let's dive in.
This move is particularly intriguing because, in the past, President Trump has been openly critical of Swift. He even took to Truth Social earlier this summer to comment, "Has anyone noticed that, since I said 'I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,' she's no longer 'HOT?'" This sentiment seemed to emerge shortly after Swift endorsed Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election in September.
But here's where it gets controversial... Swift had previously called out Trump for using a manipulated image to falsely suggest she was endorsing him. Trump even predicted her music sales would suffer due to her endorsement, a prediction that, as it turned out, didn't come to pass.
Interestingly, Trump's last public comment about Swift came after her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce. He called Kelce a "great player" and Swift a "terrific person," wishing them well.
In her endorsement of Harris, Swift made her political stance clear, stating that Harris "fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos."
Variety reached out to the White House for comment, and a White House official responded with a bit of a zinger: "We made this video because we knew fake news media brands like Variety would breathlessly amplify them. Congrats, you got played." Representatives for Swift, however, did not immediately respond to Variety's request for comment.
And this is the part most people miss... The situation raises questions about political strategy, celebrity influence, and the ever-blurring lines between entertainment and politics.
What do you think? Is this a savvy move by the White House, or a misstep? Do you think the use of Swift's music is a genuine attempt to connect with a broader audience, or something else entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments!
