Former FBI Director James Comey recently shared a personal and somewhat unusual video on his Substack, revealing his admiration for pop star Taylor Swift and explaining how her music helps him cope with the ongoing tension between him and President Donald Trump.
Comey, who was famously fired by Trump in 2017, took to the video to reflect on the advice he draws from Swift's work, notably her approach to dealing with negativity.
Comey expressed that while Trump continues to attack Swift, including publicly stating she’s “no longer hot,” the singer is thriving, producing music, and following her own wisdom of not letting “jerks” control her energy. He mentioned Swift’s recent interview with the Kelce brothers, where she discussed not giving power to online trolls and treating personal energy as a precious resource. Comey also praised Swift’s resilience, quoting her song "Mean," which advocates for not letting negativity define one’s path.
James Comey: "I don't want us to become like Trump and his followers. There are far more decent, honest, kind people in America than there are mean jerks...so few Americans support Donald Trump...We need to stand up to jerks and defend what matters...without becoming like them,… pic.twitter.com/nVsSfK3gZy
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) August 18, 2025
The former FBI director, who described himself as a “Swiftie,” explained that he has been a fan for years, attending two of her concerts and maintaining a family Swiftie group chat. He shared that her music has soundtracked his family’s growth, offering guidance through both adversity and celebrations.
Comey also took aim at the rising coarseness within American politics, particularly within the Republican Party, and compared it to the type of humor used by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who often mocks Trump. Despite finding the mockery funny, Comey expressed concerns about stooping to the level of negativity exhibited by Trump and his followers.
Swift, who has openly criticized Trump and endorsed Joe Biden in the past, remains a polarizing figure in American politics, but Comey’s video highlighted how her music continues to inspire him in times of adversity
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