Former FBI Director James Comey has resurfaced in the political conversation, this time not for his role in government or law enforcement, but for an unusual confession about how he finds inspiration in pop culture. In a video posted to social media on Sunday, Comey openly declared himself a Taylor Swift fan — a “Swiftie” — and said her music gives him the strength to oppose former President Donald Trump.
“I’m in a family’s Swiftie group chat. I know all her music, and I listen to it in my headphones when I cut the grass,” Comey said, adding that his favorite songs are “All Too Well” and “Exile.”
For a man who once led the nation’s premier federal investigative agency, this sort of political commentary wrapped in celebrity culture strikes many as emblematic of how unserious Washington insiders can become once they leave office. Instead of reflecting on the weight of government power or the lasting consequences of decisions made under his leadership, Comey now describes his political resolve as tied to the lyrics of a pop singer.
The former FBI chief went on to explain that Swift’s music has been a constant in his family during moments of both hardship and celebration, framing her example as a guide to resisting what he called “bullies.” “But I gotta be honest, it also leaves me with a strange feeling at times because I don’t want us to become like Trump and his followers,” he said. “There are far more decent, honest, kind people in America than there are mean jerks. And don’t get me wrong, we have our jerks, millions of them.”
Comey stressed that he was not advocating “weakness,” but suggested that the better path forward is to stand up to opponents without “becoming like them.” He tied this again to Swift, remarking: “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.”
There is a striking irony here. This is the same James Comey who played a central role in the FBI’s handling of the Trump-Russia probe, an investigation that consumed years of national attention, cost taxpayers millions, and ultimately collapsed under its own lack of evidence. In fact, as of July, Comey himself became the subject of renewed scrutiny when the FBI launched an investigation into him and former CIA Director John Brennan for their roles in driving the Trump-Russia narrative.
That background cannot be separated from this latest video. Instead of grappling with questions of accountability, or even addressing the ongoing inquiries into how the government’s investigative powers were wielded under his leadership, Comey is presenting himself as a cultural warrior, using pop music as a shield while taking shots at Trump and his supporters.
For conservatives, the broader lesson is clear. When former high-level officials who once commanded vast authority begin relying on celebrity fan culture to justify their political stances, it says more about the weakness of their arguments than the strength of their convictions. The federal government was never intended to be guided by Hollywood trends or the lyrics of a chart-topping singer. The stakes are higher, the responsibilities greater, and the consequences far more serious.
Comey’s words reveal how deeply ingrained the habit has become for Washington elites to turn even entertainment into a weapon against political opponents, all while avoiding responsibility for the policies and decisions that have left lasting impacts on the American people.
