Taylor Swift has shattered a podcast viewership record previously held by President Donald Trump, drawing 1.3 million viewers within the first hour of her appearance on the “New Heights” podcast on Wednesday, August 14, 2025.
The Grammy-winning artist appeared on the podcast alongside her boyfriend and co-host Travis Kelce, while his older brother Jason Kelce conducted the interview for over two hours. Representatives for Swift confirmed the viewership figures to The Daily Beast the following day.
Swift’s appearance surpassed Trump’s previous record from his October 2024 appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience,” which attracted 800,000 viewers within its first hour, according to CNN data analyst Harry Enten. CNN host Kate Bolduan noted that Swift’s interview was already positioned to become one of the most-watched podcasts of all time.
The record-breaking viewership comes amid ongoing tensions between Swift and Trump, which intensified after the singer publicly endorsed Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election campaign. Following her endorsement, Trump expressed his hostility toward Swift on his Truth Social platform, writing “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT” in all capital letters.
Trump continued his criticism of Swift in May, posting on Truth Social that since his declaration of hatred toward her, she was no longer considered popular. The president has maintained his antagonistic stance toward the pop star, despite her massive cultural influence and economic impact.
The podcast appearance occurred just weeks before Swift and Kelce announced their engagement on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. The couple shared their engagement news through a joint Instagram post featuring photos from their garden proposal, which has since garnered over 30 million likes.
Ed Kelce, Travis’ father, revealed in an interview with Cleveland’s ABC affiliate News 5 that the proposal took place approximately two weeks before the public announcement at a garden in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He described how his son took Swift outside for a glass of wine before dinner and proposed in what he characterized as a beautiful moment.
The engagement announcement prompted an unexpected response from Trump during a White House Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. When asked about the couple’s news, Trump indicated he wished them luck and praised both Kelce as a great player and Swift as a terrific person, marking a stark contrast to his previous public statements about the singer.
This measured response came after Trump had criticized Swift earlier in August, calling her a “woke singer” in a Truth Social post while praising actress Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle advertisement. In that same post, Trump suggested that Swift had been “booed out of the Super Bowl” and was no longer popular following his public criticism of her.
Swift’s podcast appearance generated significant attention from both supporters and critics, with many questioning whether celebrity engagements should receive breaking news coverage. The debate highlighted the ongoing cultural divide over Swift’s influence and newsworthiness, particularly given her massive fanbase and economic impact on various industries.
The engagement has drawn reactions from Swift’s past relationships, including support from actor Taylor Lautner, who briefly dated Swift in 2009. Lautner reposted the NFL’s Instagram celebration of the engagement, demonstrating the continued respect between the former couple.
Meanwhile, Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole, who dated the NFL star on and off for five years before their 2022 split, posted a cryptic message about finding joy hours after the engagement announcement. Nicole shared a video featuring actress Tracee Ellis Ross discussing the difference between happiness and joy, adding her own commentary about aspiring to choose joy as a perspective.
The couple’s relationship timeline began in late 2023 when Kelce publicly expressed interest in dating Swift during an episode of the “New Heights” podcast. Their romance quickly became highly publicized, with Swift regularly attending Kansas City Chiefs games and the couple making joint public appearances.
Donna Kelce, Travis’ mother, had hinted at significant developments just days before the engagement announcement. Speaking to People on Sunday, she indicated that her son’s mind seemed settled and that he appeared calm and focused, knowing exactly what he wanted. Ed Kelce was more direct in attributing his son’s happiness to Swift’s presence in his life.
The podcast record represents another milestone in Swift’s continued cultural dominance, demonstrating her ability to generate massive audience engagement across various media platforms. Her influence extends beyond music into sports, fashion, and broader popular culture, making her personal announcements significant news events regardless of political perspectives.
