Former FBI Director James Comey opened up in a video on Aug. 17, 2025, about being a "Swiftie," while also taking digs at President Donald Trump, adding that he used the pop star's lyrics to learn how to deal with bullies. (Getty ; James Comey on Substack)
"I’m in a family’s Switie group chat. I know all her music and I listen to it in my headphones when I cut the grass," Comey said.
His favorites? The 10-minute "All Too Well" and "Exile" with Bon Iver.
"Taylor Swift has grown up with my family and provided us a soundtrack, really, as we've grown ourselves and learned and adapted and dealt with adversity and celebration," he said, adding that millions of families likely feel the same.
Comey explained that at every stage of Swift’s career, she has shown a way that resonated with kids, which also felt right to him as a parent, and she has continued to do that even as an adult artist.
FBI DIRECTOR PATEL SAYS HE'S HAD TO DIVERT RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE 'COPYCATS' OF COMEY '86 47' POST
Taylor Swift looked to the audience in her black "Reputation Era" jumpsuit, following her announcement the Eras Tour will end in December 2024. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
"I am not an advocate for weakness. Of course, we need to stand up to jerks and defend what matters, but I think we have to try to do that without becoming like them, which is what makes me think about Taylor Swift," he said. "She's made clear that she sees Donald Trump for what he is. Last year, she urged Americans not to make the serious mistake of electing him.
"Of course, we're now living with the consequences of that mistake. But while our elderly makeup-covered president is posting about whether Taylor Swift is still hot and declaring that he can't stand her, what's she doing? Living her best life, producing great music and, as she urged all of us to do during the podcast, not giving the jerks power over her mind," Comey continued.
He cited Swift’s advice to treat personal energy "like a luxury item" and linked it to research showing rudeness makes people less happy.
COMEY CLAIMS HE HAD NO 'DARK INTENTION' WITH '86 47' SEASHELL POST, ISN'T SCARED OF TRUMP
Taylor Swift performs as part of the "Eras Tour" at the Tokyo Dome, on Feb. 7, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Toru Hanai)
"We can't stop people from being jerks. What we can do is stop it from hurting us, from changing us," he added.
He then talked about the second time he saw Swift in concert, 14 years ago in Hartford, Connecticut.
During the concert, he said, Swift sang a song, asking nasty people, "why you gotta be so mean."
"I bet you got pushed around. Somebody made you cold. But the cycle ends right now, because you can’t leave me down that road," Comey said, reciting Swift’s lyrics for ‘Mean.’ "You’ll be glad I didn’t sing that. That’s right, because down that road of unhappiness, nobody should have that power over us."
The video went viral, with one user calling it "the creepiest video in the history of social media" and another writing, "It’s truly mind-blowing this man served as FBI director."
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Comey has a history of provocative posts, including an "86 47" seashell photo that drew backlash and a "Vote Harris" shell he shared last year.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-fbi-director-james-comey-confesses-hes-swiftie-new-anti-trump-video-message