The White House ignited a firestorm among Taylor Swift fans on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, after posting a TikTok video that featured the pop superstar’s chart-topping single “The Fate of Ophelia” without apparent authorization. The 22-second clip, shared on the administration’s official account, appropriated Swift’s lyrics to promote the military and President Donald Trump’s administration, triggering immediate backlash from the singer’s devoted fanbase.
The controversial video displayed the lyric “Keep it one hundred on the land, the sea, the sky” over footage showcasing different branches of the U.S. military. The clip then transitioned to images of Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and their spouses as the song reached the line “Pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes.” In an particularly bold move, Trump’s mugshot briefly appeared on screen, accompanied by the lyric “don’t care where the hell you been.”
Swift fans flooded the comment section with criticism, questioning the administration’s decision to use the song from an artist the president has repeatedly attacked. One user wrote that Swift would hate the unauthorized use of her music, while another sarcastically noted the singer would be thrilled by the appropriation. Several commenters referenced Trump’s previous social media post declaring “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,” questioning the apparent hypocrisy of now using her music for promotional purposes. Multiple fans urged Swift to pursue legal action against the administration.
The controversy represents the latest chapter in the contentious relationship between Trump and Swift. The president has repeatedly criticized the singer, particularly after she endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. Swift signed her endorsement post “Childless Cat Lady,” referencing a comment made by Vance. Days after that endorsement, Trump posted on Truth Social that he hates the pop star.
The friction between Trump and Swift continued into 2025. In May, the president posted on Truth Social questioning whether anyone noticed that Swift was no longer “hot” since he declared his hatred for her. The comment drew criticism even from some Trump supporters. Jenna Piwowarczyk, founder of “Swifties for Trump,” told Newsweek in May that she cringed when the president made such statements, noting they contribute to alienating conservative women who appreciate Swift’s music.
Piwowarczyk established her group in August to bridge the gap between young women and conservative ideology, acknowledging that millions of young female voters identify as Swifties. She indicated that while Trump’s negative comments about Swift likely had minimal impact, positive statements could promote unity between conservatives and young women. The 19-year-old emphasized that Swift deserves time away from the spotlight after completing her extensive tour without commentary on her popularity.
Despite the ongoing political tension, Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has remained stable. Sources close to the couple dismissed speculation in February about conflict arising from Kelce’s comments regarding Trump attending the Super Bowl. An insider told the Daily Mail that Swift was not angry with Kelce for stating it would be an honor to have the president at the game, clarifying that the athlete never explicitly expressed support for Trump and was speaking on behalf of his team and fans.
The source emphasized that no argument occurred between Swift and Kelce over the comments, noting the singer remains her fiancé’s biggest cheerleader. The insider stated Swift was excited about supporting Kelce at the championship game regardless of any political controversy.
Swift has maintained her silence regarding the White House TikTok video as of publication time. Meanwhile, “The Fate of Ophelia” continues dominating the Billboard charts, holding the number one position for its fourth consecutive week. The single launched as part of Swift’s album “The Life of a Showgirl,” which she announced in August during an appearance on the New Heights podcast co-hosted by Kelce and his brother Jason.
The album achieved remarkable commercial success upon its October 3, 2025 release, selling approximately 2.7 million copies on its first day in both physical and digital formats. The release shattered vinyl sales records with 1.2 million copies sold during the first week. Swift collaborated with longtime producers Max Martin and Shellback on the 12-track album, which also features pop star Sabrina Carpenter on the title track.
The White House has not issued a statement addressing the backlash or clarifying whether permission was obtained to use Swift’s music in the promotional video. The administration’s social media team captioned the TikTok “OUR VIBES” with an American flag emoji, seemingly unbothered by the potential copyright concerns or the predictable negative reaction from Swift’s fanbase.
