In recent days, Taylor Swift’s music has been quietly scrubbed from TikTok posts published by the White House and the “Team Trump” campaign. The removal occurred without any public statement, condemnation, or direct engagement from the singer, who is known for her protective stance regarding her brand and intellectual property. One specific video, which originally featured the president and first lady watching fireworks set to Swift’s track “August,” has since been ” Other posts, including one that previously featured lyrics from Swift’s “Father Figure” over visuals of the president, now simply display a notification stating, “This sound isn’t available.”
It remains unclear whether the singer’s team initiated private communication regarding the usage or if the threat of potential legal action influenced the decision to remove the tracks. A spokesperson for Swift did not provide a comment when contacted. Swift has historically maintained a calculated approach to political activism, remaining mindful of the impact that public endorsements or political involvement can have on her extensive fan base.
Other high-profile artists have adopted a more confrontational approach when their music has been utilized by the administration. Katy Perry, for instance, expressed she was “deeply appalled” after her song “Firework” was used in an eight-second TikTok video featuring declassified military strike footage, calling the unauthorized usage a “complete violation of everything my song stands for.” Similarly, Noah Kahan criticized the use of his track “American Cars” in an Instagram post showing the president at a General Motors facility in Michigan, writing in the comments, “Would never approve of my music being used in support of you or this administration.” The music was subsequently removed from that post.
Sabrina Carpenter also condemned the use of her song “Juno” in a White House video that depicted law enforcement performing immigration-related actions, labeling the usage “evil and disgusting.” The video was later deleted from X. In a separate instance, the Department of Homeland Security posted a video featuring Olivia Rodrigo’s “All-American Bitch,” which led the singer to publicly denounce the use of her music to promote “racist, hateful propaganda.” While the audio was disabled on Instagram, it remains accessible on X.
The unauthorized use of music by the Trump campaign and administration is not a new development; previous artists who have raised objections include Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, and ABBA. Under standard regulations, a license is required to utilize copyrighted music in public settings, such as political rallies or official government social media channels. However, the current administration’s social media strategy appears to prioritize high engagement, with the team occasionally tagging artists directly in posts to amplify reach. A White House official previously noted that the administration’s current social media strategy involves fewer layers of bureaucratic approval, allowing for a more nimble, albeit controversial, approach to content creation that aims to meet audiences where they are.
The White House did not respond to inquiries regarding the removal of Swift’s music or potential legal concerns. Beyond Swift, other artists have seen their work removed through similar quiet processes. Bad Bunny’s music was recently taken down from White House sizzle reels, and Jack White, who previously sued the president over the use of “Seven Nation Army,” saw the anthem removed from a recent hype video. The status of Gloria Estefan’s “Conga” on a military highlight reel remains to be seen.
The relationship between the president and Swift has been complex. Last month, Trump claimed he was more popular on TikTok than the singer, asserting he held the No. 1 spot compared to her No. 11, despite her having roughly double his following. While he has frequently stated he is “not a fan,” he offered rare praise for Swift and her husband, Travis Kelce, during a Cabinet meeting following their engagement. This contrasts sharply with his reaction to her 2024 endorsement of Kamala Harris, which prompted an all-caps social media response: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” Despite the current political friction, historical footage shows the president listening to Swift’s “Blank Space” in a car with his son, Barron, long before his political career began. The report also notes that that official said, “looks like stuff people are used to consuming — but it’s refreshing coming from the government.”, content on White House accounts. The report also notes that “It’s the government’s responsibility to meet people where they are, be as many places as they possibly can be, and communicate in the language that people understand,” the official said. The report also notes that 11 (though he has roughly half her following). The report also notes that launching accounts that often push limits and troll Democrats, the Trump White House has reimagined its role on social media during the president’s second term. The report also notes that but it’s also allowed those accounts to be more nimble, that has prompted blowback. The report also notes that unable to shake it off over the years, trump has had a complicated relationship with Swift.