IOver the past two weeks, the Trump administration has used music from Taylor Swift's latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” in three social media posts. firstposted on the official White House TikTok account, was a patriotic slideshow of images intended for the lead single, “Ophelia's Destiny.” As Swift sings “I pledge my allegiance to my hands, my crew, my vibe,” the video cuts to images of the U.S. flag, President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and the First and Second Lady. The second and third were posted by Team Trump, the official Trump campaign account. Oneset to “Father Figure”, repeats the words “this empire belongs to me” with the caption “this empire belongs to @PresidentDonaldTrump”, while anotherdedicated to Melania Trump's victory in the so-called Patriot of the Year award, voiced by Opalite.
The Trump administration has found itself in perilous positions in the past over its use of popular music. White stripes and estate Isaac Hayes both tried to sue the administration for using their music without permission, while artists including Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Abba and Foo Fighters issued statements demanding Trump stop using their songs at campaign rallies and public appearances. More recently, Olivia Rodrigo was convicted administration after the official Department of Homeland Security and White House Instagram accounts used her song “All-American Bitch” in a video promoting her controversial deportation efforts (the song was later removed from Instagram).
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However, Swift has not said anything publicly. The silence is surprising for an artist who is known to be fighting legal battles over unauthorized use of her music or images: she previously sued the theme park for performing her music without a license, go for Etsy sellers for using lyrics from her songs in an unofficial product, filmed on YouTube creators about copyright infringement and demanded retroactive copyrights for songs from new artists (including Rodrigo). (Her representatives did not respond to requests for comment.)
Curiously, Swift and her team did not issue a statement distancing her from a president mired in scandal and an administration criticized for censorship, brutal immigration raids and far-right policies. She was once politically shy, but now seems completely embrace and champion progressive values in 2018So much so that her decision to speak out about politics became the main storyline of her documentary, Miss Americana. She subsequently endorsed Democratic political candidates, supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election, and criticized the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. “I need to be on the right side of history,” she said at Miss Americana, apparently ignoring the advice of team members including her own father.
It is now unclear whether this statement remains in force. If so, Swift seems less interested in telling us: She hasn't condemned ICE raids or commented on the conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
This position echoes those of other once openly liberal celebrities who have now gone quiet about politics. Jennifer Lawrence recently said she will no longer publicly discuss the president because it would simply “add fuel to the fire that is tearing the country apart.” Instead, “a lot of the films that my production company produces are expressions of the political landscape,” she said, “and that's why I feel like I can be of service.” Other stars who supported Harris along with Swift in 2024, including Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry, also remained tight-lipped. “Euphoria” star Sydney Sweeney refused to participate in the tense political discourse. even after it was revealed that he was a registered Republican.
Like Lawrence, Swift may believe that publicly speaking out against the Trump administration will further divide an already crumbling nation. She may be quietly supporting those whose lives have been impacted by government attacks on immigrants and minorities. Speaking out is risky: After Swift endorsed Harris, Trump said he “hates” Swift and because Jimmy Kimmel scandal demonstrated that the government is not afraid to use its weight to silence critics.
Fear of retaliation hasn't silenced other stars, however: Both Rodrigo and Billie Eilish have made their feelings about the Trump administration clear, as have artists including Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.
Of course, Swift has more to lose than most. Despite criticism of A Dancer's Life, it was never that popular, at least not from a commercial point of view. A upcoming documentary series produced by Disney We can't wait to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Eras tour. And then there's her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce. Their relationship turned them into jingoistic symbols for red-blooded (and red-hat-wearing) Americans: the late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk vociferously approvedwhile other Mage voices suggested that their union would encourage Americans to procreate. It helped change Swift's image so much that even Trump softened towards her: “I think she's an amazing person,” he said, congratulating the couple on their engagement.
The president may also see himself in Swift, a stoic businesswoman who releases multiple editions of her albums to generate extra income and secure high chart positions—presumably to prevent other artists from reaching number one. Luxreleasing a new streaming exclusive version of A Dancer's Life. If so, then this money-hungry, competition-destroying approach to pop stardom has a parallel in Trump's profit-oriented thinking, and her own interests may even have a parallel in his protectionist economic policies.
Swift, like corporations like Disney, Meta, Paramount and Walmart, may find ring-kissing to be cost-effective. There's even a hint of conservatism in the Showgirl material that seems to be in step with Trump 2.0: Canceled! champions those facing public backlash, while on Wi$h Li$t she fantasizes about a white picket fence lifestyle, a basketball hoop and “having a couple kids / The whole block will look like you.”
It's hard to forget the young woman in Miss Americana who so passionately rejected the advice of those around her to speak out for what she believed was right. Whatever you think about celebrity influence in politics, Swift's platform is so monumental that any public opposition to the Trump administration will be valuable, whether through her art or her actions. It may further intensify an already tense and divisive political climate, but its impact gives it the potential to encourage thousands of people to reject increasingly regressive and intimidating social and political norms.
But if Showgirl is representative of Swift's current activities, she's never been more introverted. Vindictive, self-absorbed and unimaginative, this is the work of an artist who seems out of touch with the troubling state of the world. “I protect the family,” she sings on “Father Figure.” Once upon a time you knew exactly what it meant. Now things are not so clear.
