Former FBI Director James Comey released a roughly five-minute video on his Substack on 17 August declaring himself a longtime “Swiftie” and explaining that Taylor Swift’s music guides his response to President Donald Trump, whom he said has “humiliated America” and turned politics into a “bad dream.” Comey, 64, recounted attending two Swift concerts—one in Hartford, Connecticut, 14 years ago—and said songs such as “All Too Well,” “Exile” and “Mean” provide a family soundtrack. Quoting Swift’s lyrics, he argued that her approach shows how to stand up to “bullies” without adopting their tone. The former bureau chief contrasted Swift’s attitude with what he called the “stunning coarseness” of today’s Republican Party, yet urged Americans not to “become like Trump and his followers.” He echoed Swift’s recent podcast advice to treat personal energy “like a luxury item,” adding that research links rudeness with unhappiness. The video, which drew quick attention online, extends Comey’s public criticism of Trump since he left the FBI in 2017 and follows backlash over a May Instagram post that opponents claimed incited violence against the president.