The engagement of pop icon Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has dominated headlines this week—and even prompted a reaction from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Despite his past criticism of Swift, Trump offered warm wishes to the couple during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday, just hours after their announcement. “I wish them a lot of luck,” he told reporters. “I think he’s a great player, I think he’s a great guy, and I think that she’s a terrific person, so I wish them a lot of luck.”
Trump’s response comes after years of shifting remarks about Swift, ranging from praise for her music and character to sharp criticism following her entry into politics.
His first widely known comment about Swift dates back to 2009, when rapper Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. Trump called the outburst “disgusting” and urged a boycott of West, saying the rapper was merely seeking attention.
In the early 2010s, Trump appeared to admire the singer. In August 2012, he tweeted thanks to Swift for what he described as a “beautiful picture” and called her “fantastic.” Later that year, he celebrated her co-hosting of the Grammy nominations special, declaring, “Taylor is terrific!”
By 2015, his admiration had not faded. In an interview with Yahoo! Politics, Trump again described Swift as “terrific.” At the time, a video posted by his wife Melania even showed him driving while listening to Swift’s music.
The tone changed in October 2018, when Swift publicly endorsed Democratic candidates in Tennessee. Trump, then in the middle of his presidency, told reporters that he liked her music “about 25% less” after her announcement, while reaffirming his support for Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn.
In more recent years, Trump’s comments have swung between dismissive and conciliatory. In 2023, when reports surfaced of Swift’s romance with Kelce, Trump told The Daily Caller, “I wish the best for both of them. I hope they enjoy their life, maybe together, maybe not—most likely not.” Around the same time, he accused Swift of being “woke” and claimed she was “no longer hot” after she endorsed his opponent Kamala Harris in the presidential election.
Now, with Swift and Kelce officially engaged, Trump appears to have taken a more measured approach, praising both and wishing them well. The remarks underscore a long and unusual history of the former president inserting himself into cultural moments involving Swift—often reflecting the political climate of the time.
