The ongoing conflict between Taylor Swift and the Trump-affiliated accounts on social media has taken a new turn, with the White House TikTok account attempting to use Swift’s song “I Bet You Think About Me” in a recent post. The clip featured Donald Trump interacting with people while the track played in the background. However, the video’s caption took an antagonistic tone, stating, “We know you think about us,” a nod to the song’s lyrics. Shortly after its release, the song was muted and removed from the video, although it remains accessible in other TikTok clips.
A Pattern of Provocation
This incident isn’t isolated; it reflects a trend of the Trump campaign seeking to provoke the pop star. Just days prior, on August 8, the Team Trump TikTok account had posted a video containing Swift’s song “August,” which she subsequently had removed. The caption accompanying that video read, “I’m sure Taylor Swift is going to be super excited we used her song,” further underscoring the ongoing rivalry.
Social Media Strategies
Since Trump’s administration began its second term, it has increasingly turned to social media to convey its messaging. These provocative videos often incorporate popular music and internet culture to shed a positive light on the administration’s most controversial policies, including immigration and foreign relations. The clips utilizing Swift’s music have specifically sought to enhance the image of Trump and his administration.
Swift’s Silence
It’s important to note that Swift has not publicly addressed the removal of her songs from these videos, mirroring the actions of other artists like Bad Bunny, who experienced a similar situation. Bad Bunny’s track “La Mudanza” was utilized in a White House video that many found tone-deaf, only to be muted shortly thereafter without any statement from him. Following that incident, Trump-aligned accounts have refrained from using Bad Bunny’s music.
