09 August,2026 04:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Taylor Swift and US President Donald Trump. Pics via X
Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's music has once again become part of the political conversation after her song August was removed from a TikTok video posted by an account affiliated with US President Donald Trump. The development comes after Swift's music was repeatedly used in posts by Team Trump and the White House, despite her well-documented political differences with the president.
The latest controversy involved August, a track from Swift's 2020 album Folklore. Team Trump, an account launched during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and followed by around 14 million users, used the song in a video featuring Trump and Melania Trump watching a fireworks display.
The clip carried the text, "Mood because it's August and Donald Trump is your president," while its caption appeared to sarcastically acknowledge Swift's involvement: "I'm sure Taylor Swift is going to be super excited we used her song!"
However, on Friday, August 7, users noticed that the audio had disappeared from the post, with TikTok displaying the message, "This sound isn't available." The move prompted plenty of reactions online, with one user writing, "TAYLOR REMOVING THE AUDIO QUEEEEEEN," while another joked, "Sorry, what was that? can't hear the song."
Swift has not publicly commented on the removal.
August isn't the only Swift track to disappear from Trump-affiliated social media posts. According to Variety, a Team Trump video featuring her song Father Figure from her 2025 album was also no longer available. Meanwhile, a White House TikTok using The Fate of Ophelia has disappeared as well.
Team Trump has continued referencing Swift's music even after the removals. One post used imagery inspired by her 2012 album Red, featuring a mock-up of Trump's profile and a fictional "Red (Trump's Version)" playlist. The post also played on Swift's song titles, including Everything Has Changed and We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.
The relationship between Swift and Trump has been tense for years. Swift endorsed Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, after which Trump publicly criticised the singer. He has also previously posted, "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!" on Truth Social.
Swift is not the only musician whose music has been used in Trump-related content. Artists including Katy Perry and Ariana Grande have also objected to their songs being associated with the administration.
For now, Swift has remained silent on the latest episode, while her songs continue to feature and subsequently vanish from Trump-affiliated posts.
