Taylor Swift is reportedly using her copyright control to disable TikTok videos posted by "Team Trump" that utilized her music. This follows a recent clip featuring President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump that used the song "August" to make a partisan point.
The "August" audio blackout on TikTok
A recent video posted by the "Team Trump" account featured a clip of President Donald Trump, 80, and Melania Trump, 56, watching fireworks. According to the Daily Mail, the video included the text, "Mood because it's August and Donald Trump is your president," set to Swift's 2020 track "August." However, by Friday night, the audio had been replaced by a copyright notice stating the owner had not made the sound available in the user's country.
The removal of the track sparked immediate celebration among the singer's fanbase. On TikTok, fans reacted to the sudden silence with comments praising the singer's decisiveness, with one user noting that Swift had effectively "clocked" the political account. The song "August" originally appeared on her 2020 Folklore album, a project known for its indie-folk storytelling.
The May 2025 master recording victory
This ability to pull music from social media platforms is a direct result of Swift's long-standing battle for her intellectual property. The singer, 36, officially regained ownership of her original master recordings in May 2025 after a six-year legal struggle. This ownership allows her to control how tracks like "August" and "Red" are used in digital spaces, a power she has already exercised by removing the song "Father Figure" from a similar video in November of last year.
By controlling her masters, Swift has transformed her discography into a tool for both artistic expression and legal leveragge. this shift ensures that her music cannot be used as a soundtrack for political messaging without her explicit consent, a move that fundamentally changes the landscape for how celebrities interact with political social media campaigns.
From 2018 endorsements to the "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT" era
The tension between the pop star and the former president has escalated significantly over several years. While friction began in 2018 following Swift's endorsement of Democratic candidates in Tennessee, the conflict peaked in September 2024 after she endorsed Kamala Harris. As reported by the Daily Mail, Trump responded to her endorsement on Truth Social by stating, "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!"
Despite this ongoing political discord, the relationship has shown occasional, unexpected shifts. For instance, Trump took a softer stance when responding to news of Swift's engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in August 2025, offering well-wishes to the couple. However, the White House's social media presence on X and Instagram continues to lean into the friction, recently sharing an AI-generated image following the announcement of Swift and Kelce's marriage.
Will the "Red" audio be the next to go?
While "August" has been silenced, the "Team Trump" account has continued to use other tracks, including the song "Red." As of Saturday morning, the audio for the "Red" video—which teased that Swift wrote an entire album about the color of the Republican Party—remained active. This suggests that the singer's team may be choosing which tracks to defend on a case-by-case basis.
Several questions remain regarding the scope of this digital crackdown. It is currently unknown if Swift will target other clips, such as the November video that still includes "The Fate of Ophelia" on its audio track. Furthermore, representatives for both Swift and the White House have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the removal of the audio or the use of the music.
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