White House Uses Taylor Swift’s ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ in Pro-Trump TikTok Video Despite His Previous Anti-Swift Comments

In an unexpected strategic maneuver, the White House's official TikTok account released a new patriotic video. The clip showcased former President Donald Trump and his associates, but its most striking feature was the use of Taylor Swift's chart-topping song, "The Fate of Ophelia," as its soundtrack. This choice is particularly ironic given Trump's history of public clashes with the international pop superstar.

The animosity between the two escalated sharply in September after Swift officially endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election. Trump, who frequently uses his Truth Social platform for personal disputes, reacted by posting, "Has anyone noticed that, since I said 'I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,' she’s no longer 'HOT?'" This was not an isolated incident; Swift had previously criticized him for sharing a manipulated image that falsely suggested her support. Despite Trump's assertion that her political involvement would harm her music sales, the opposite proved true. Taylor Swift, whose record-breaking "Eras Tour" has demonstrated her immense economic and cultural impact, saw her popularity and commercial success continue unabated.

A significant softening in Trump's tone occurred after a major personal update from the singer. Following Swift's engagement announcement in August with Travis Kelce—the Kansas City Chiefs' star tight end and a two-time Super Bowl winner—Trump extended an olive branch. He praised Kelce as a "great player" and Swift as a "terrific person," concluding with, "Well, I wish them a lot of luck." This contrasted sharply with his earlier hostility. In her original endorsement, Swift had described Harris as a "steady-handed, gifted leader" who "fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them." Her focus on a leadership approach characterized by "calm and not chaos" was widely interpreted as a direct critique of Trump's often turbulent governing style.

When the entertainment publication Variety requested a comment on the unusual TikTok video, a White House official responded with a mocking retort. The official stated, "We made this video because we knew fake news media brands like Variety would breathlessly amplify them. Congrats, you got played," suggesting the main goal was to incite media coverage and manipulate public discourse. Dr. Lena Petrova, a political communication specialist at Georgetown University, offered her analysis: "This is a classic case of political trolling. By appropriating a rival's cultural symbols, a campaign can generate enormous engagement while simultaneously mocking the press for reacting, thus shaping the story from several angles." As of now, Taylor Swift's representatives have not issued any statement regarding the administration's video.