In a swift response to political appropriation, Taylor Swift has successfully had her song “August” removed from a TikTok video posted by the Team Trump account, which is affiliated with the 2024 presidential campaign. Just days after the video aired, featuring Donald and Melania Trump celebrating with fireworks, the music was stripped from the clip, displaying a message stating, “The copyright owner hasn’t made this sound available in your country.”
Political Background
The Team Trump TikTok post not only included the iconic track from her album Folklore, but also a cheeky caption: “I’m sure @Taylor Swift is going to be super excited we used her song! #taylorswift #maga #august.” This was not the first time the account has employed Swift’s music, which has become a point of contention, especially following her endorsement of Kamala Harris for the upcoming election. Donald Trump himself has expressed a less-than-favorable opinion towards Swift, declaring, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT.” This animosity seems to fuel the account’s repeated use of her songs.
Copyright Issues
The removal of “August” follows similar developments, with reports indicating that another Team Trump video featuring Swift’s “Father Figure,” posted back in November, also had its audio stripped. However, it appears the removal is not exhaustive; an official White House TikTok from last November still utilizes Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia.” The White House has also cheekily referenced Swift during her marriage to Travis Kelce, sharing a series of memes to mark the occasion.
History of Conflict
This hostility traces back even further, to the midterm elections in 2018 when Swift publicly backed Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen over Republican Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee. Following her endorsement, Trump commented on her political views, stating, “I’m sure Taylor Swift knows nothing, and doesn’t know anything about [Blackburn],” and unabashedly added, “I like Taylor’s music about 25 percent less now, OK?”
