As he celebrated the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 Super Bowl victory, Donald Trump switched his focus to the Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor Swift.

As confetti rained down on the Philadelphia Eagles following their resounding victory in the 2025 Super Bowl, the NFL world was abuzz with celebrations, fanfare, and the usual round of political nods that follow a championship in America’s most popular sport. But few expected former President Donald Trump, attending the postgame festivities in Las Vegas, to abruptly pivot from congratulating the Eagles to launching a tirade about the Kansas City Chiefs and pop megastar Taylor Swift.

What began as a moment of unity—a rare instance where sports transcend political lines—swiftly turned into a spectacle that mingled Trump’s long-running feud with the entertainment industry, his commentary on patriotism in sports, and his increasingly pointed takes on Swift’s cultural influence. The unexpected comments, made during an impromptu press availability, have once again placed Trump at the center of a conversation that fuses celebrity, sports, and political tribalism.

The 2025 Super Bowl, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, ended with the Eagles defeating the AFC champion Baltimore Ravens 31-20, avenging their narrow loss to Kansas City just two years earlier. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts was named MVP, and head coach Nick Sirianni praised his team’s resilience in the postgame conference. The victory capped off a dominant postseason run and cemented the Eagles’ status as one of the NFL’s elite franchises in the modern era.

Trump, known for inserting himself into the sports conversation when politically convenient, issued a congratulatory post on Truth Social, hailing the Eagles as “true American winners” and praising Hurts for “showing the toughness and leadership we need more of in this country.” The post quickly made the rounds on social media, with supporters lauding Trump’s gesture and critics dismissing it as performative.

But it was his follow-up remarks that drew the most attention.

Just hours after the game ended, Trump was asked by a conservative talk show host at a Vegas after-party about his thoughts on the Chiefs failing to reach their third straight Super Bowl. Rather than give a routine response, Trump went off-script.

“I think the Chiefs got distracted. You know, all this Taylor Swift stuff. It’s a circus,” Trump said. “They spent more time playing Hollywood than playing football. And quite frankly, people are tired of it. We want football—not PR stunts.”

The remarks, referencing the high-profile relationship between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop superstar Taylor Swift, sent shockwaves across the internet. Though Trump did not mention Kelce by name, the implication was clear: he blamed the Chiefs’ postseason shortcomings on what he saw as unnecessary celebrity spectacle.

Swift, who had attended several Chiefs games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, became a regular fixture on NFL broadcasts. Her appearances boosted viewership, especially among younger demographics and women—a marketing boon for the league. The relationship between Kelce and Swift dominated headlines and social media during the 2024 season, with many celebrating the union of two high-profile figures from different worlds.

But for Trump, Swift has long represented something else entirely.

Trump’s dislike of Taylor Swift isn’t new. In 2018, the singer broke her political silence to endorse Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen in Tennessee, angering conservatives. Trump, then president, responded by saying he liked her “about 25% less.” Since then, Swift has only become more outspoken politically, advocating for voting rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and frequently criticizing Trump-era policies in interviews and on social media.

Swift’s 2020 documentary Miss Americana even featured segments chronicling her decision to speak out politically, framing it as a turning point in her evolution from a country star to a cultural icon with influence beyond music. Trump’s supporters, viewing her as part of what they label the “liberal elite,” have often clashed with Swift’s fans online.

So when Trump tied the Chiefs’ playoff exit to Swift’s presence, it wasn’t just a sports take—it was political theater.

“It’s no coincidence,” Trump continued. “The media and the league love the distraction. They care more about ratings and image than the game. But America sees through it. We want real football, not Taylor Swift halftime shows.”

Ironically, Swift was not even scheduled to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl, nor did she attend after the Chiefs were eliminated in the divisional round by Baltimore. But facts rarely slow a Trump monologue once it’s in motion.Unsurprisingly, Trump’s comments drew widespread reactions.

Sports pundits largely dismissed the remarks as baseless. ESPN’s Mina Kimes tweeted, “Hard to see how Taylor Swift is responsible for Mahomes missing open receivers.” Fox Sports’ Nick Wright, a vocal Chiefs supporter, called the comments “a desperate attempt to stay relevant in a culture that’s outgrown this nonsense.”

NFL players, too, weighed in. Travis Kelce avoided direct comment but posted a cryptic Instagram story the next morning showing him lifting weights with the caption, “Distractions don’t lift.” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes simply reposted a Super Bowl throwback with the comment, “We’ll be back.”

Politically, responses were more polarized. Trump allies echoed his sentiment, blaming the league’s “embrace of celebrity culture” for diminishing the integrity of the sport. Right-wing influencer Benny Johnson posted, “Trump is right—Taylor Swift is a psyop,” a phrase that began trending among conspiracy theorists.

Democratic politicians and Swift supporters, however, quickly came to her defense. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted, “Imagine blaming a woman for your football team losing. But it tracks.” President Joe Biden’s official campaign account made light of the moment, tweeting a Swift lyric: “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs.”

At its core, Trump’s outburst was not just about the Chiefs or the Super Bowl. It was another entry in the ongoing American culture war, where entertainment, sports, and politics increasingly collide.

Trump has repeatedly used cultural moments—like NFL kneeling protests, U.S. women’s soccer controversies, or pandemic-era mandates in sports—as opportunities to galvanize his base. The blending of Swift’s stardom with the NFL’s massive platform made her an ideal target. For Trump, criticizing Swift taps into a larger narrative of “Hollywood elitism,” media manipulation, and what he often portrays as the moral decline of traditional American values.

Yet this strategy may have diminishing returns. Polls show Swift’s popularity has only grown, particularly among suburban and female voters—two groups that could prove crucial in the 2024 election, should Swift choose to endorse a candidate again. Trump’s decision to revive this feud could backfire among moderates or young voters who are increasingly resistant to politicizing every aspect of public life.

So far, Swift has declined to respond publicly to Trump’s latest remarks. Her representatives did not return media inquiries, and her social media accounts remained focused on the international leg of her “Eras Tour,” which resumes in Asia next week.

Still, Swift’s silence doesn’t imply weakness. Throughout her career, she has shown an uncanny ability to time her responses for maximum cultural impact. Whether in lyrics, performances, or interviews, Swift tends to control the narrative on her own terms.

If anything, the incident may further fuel her eventual political involvement in 2024. In the previous election cycle, Swift used her massive platform to encourage voter turnout and criticize voter suppression laws. With over 250 million followers across platforms, Swift’s influence is hard to overstate.

This isn’t Trump’s first time stirring controversy with football. His infamous feud with the NFL over player protests during the national anthem dominated headlines in 2017 and 2018. He called for players who kneeled to be fired and pressured team owners to discipline activists like Colin Kaepernick. That crusade earned him cheers at conservative rallies but criticism from civil rights groups and athletes alike.

Despite his frequent critiques, Trump remains fascinated by the NFL’s cultural sway. He once tried to buy the Buffalo Bills and owned a team in the short-lived USFL in the 1980s. His deep-seated desire for legitimacy in the sports world—particularly the NFL—has often manifested in these public outbursts.

The 2025 Super Bowl was supposed to be a celebration of excellence, perseverance, and sport. Instead, it became another battleground in America’s ongoing identity struggle. What should have been a night to honor the Eagles and their fans devolved, at least in part, into a Trump-fueled controversy.

Donald Trump’s pivot from football praise to pop-star criticism reveals more than just personal grievances—it underscores how deeply intertwined sports and politics have become in the American psyche. Whether his comments on Swift were strategic or impulsive, they reignited a debate that shows no signs of slowing.

As the NFL offseason begins and the political campaign season heats up, expect more clashes like this. And whether she responds directly or not, Taylor Swift’s presence—as a cultural, commercial, and increasingly political figure—will continue to loom large over both the entertainment and electoral arenas.

In the end, Trump’s Super Bowl commentary may say less about football and more about the country itself: divided, performative, and perpetually ready for the next controversy.