A Taylor Swift song has disappeared from a Donald Trump social media post after fans objected to its use in a political message about the US border. Swift has not publicly addressed the post, but that has not stopped supporters from concluding she quietly arranged the track’s removal.

On Wednesday, September 23, the @TeamTrump Instagram account shared a mock album cover featuring Trump, a border wall and text claiming: “Zer(illegals) have crossed our borders in 16+ months.”

The post, published to an account with 11.6 million followers, was captioned: “And, baby, that’s sh0w business for y0u.” It initially used Swift’s 2025 track “Father Figure,” from her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.

The combination of immigration messaging, Swift’s music and a fake CD cover produced the predictable result: immediate anger from Swift’s fan base.

Why did the song disappear from the post?

After the backlash, “Father Figure” became unavailable on the Instagram upload. The post now carries the message: “This sound isn’t available.”

That confirms the music was removed, but not who requested it or why. Neither Swift nor her representatives have publicly claimed responsibility, and Instagram has not offered an explanation. Fans nevertheless interpreted the change as evidence that the singer had intervened behind the scenes.

One commenter wrote: “As she should, they so desperately want attention and for Taylor to respond.” Another said they were not a major fan of her music but respected “how she gets s**t done.”

Others focused on Trump’s long-running habit of mentioning or invoking Swift. “Why does he keep doing things like that? He’s so obsessed with her,” one person wrote. Another added: “Even the president needs Taylor’s media attention.”

Before the audio disappeared, one fan had predicted that Swift would notice the post and act. Another simply called the entire thing “weird af” and asked whether she would respond. So far, she has not, at least not publicly.

Was Team Trump trying to borrow Swift’s attention?

Swift’s supporters believe the timing was deliberate. The post arrived as she was promoting “Patient Zero,” with a new single due on Friday, September 25.

She recently shared a 13-second preview of the song’s music video, which features Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. The full video is scheduled to premiere at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 27.

That publicity has led some fans to argue that @TeamTrump was trying to attach itself to the attention surrounding the release. There is no confirmation that this was the account’s strategy, but using one of the world’s most recognisable pop stars to decorate an immigration post was unlikely to pass unnoticed. Subtle it was not.

The choice of “Father Figure” also ensured the post would reach beyond Trump’s usual political audience. Instead, it reached Swifties, who are famously relaxed about unauthorised political use of her work. Or, more accurately, not relaxed at all.

How did Trump and Swift’s relationship deteriorate?

Donald Trump’s public opinion of Taylor Swift has shifted repeatedly over the years. In 2012, he said he liked her. By 2018, their relationship had become considerably less friendly after Swift entered a Tennessee Senate race with an endorsement.

She urged supporters to vote against Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn, describing her as “Trump in a wig.” Trump responded to reporters at the White House: “I like Taylor’s music about 25 percent less now.”

Their political divide widened when Swift later endorsed Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent and the former vice president. Trump’s criticism of the singer intensified during that period, continuing the unusually public dispute between a politician and a musician whose catalogue he apparently still found useful.

His tone softened again in 2025 while discussing Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce, who is now her husband. Trump called Kelce “a great player” and described Swift as “a terrific person.”

The latest Instagram episode suggests that uneasy truce has limits. Trump’s promotional account used Swift’s work, her fans objected, and the song vanished. Whether Swift personally ordered its removal remains unconfirmed, but her supporters have already delivered their verdict.