The “Lord of the Rings” and Donald Trump mashup is just the tip of the iceberg. With Natasha Owens’ track gaining popularity and virality, several other TikTok creators are using the opportunity to create their own special crossovers. A great mash-up is the one created by @starshipstevie, which features the song over images of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) from the “Star Wars” franchise. As you can likely tell, there’s a pattern with these fan creations. The narrative surrounding Owens’ track lends itself well to justifying some of the most prominent evil figures of power in pop culture. Both Lord Sauron and Emperor Palpatine rose to power in unconventional, politically questionable ways.
Some of the videos using the song are absolutely wild, like the one created by @missnewmoody24, which features Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) of “Dune” fame. Surprisingly, the song lyrics actually work pretty well for this version, as Atreides is “controversial” and “imperfect” and is actually (at least according to the Bene Gesserit) the “chosen one.” Unlike Palpatine and Lord Sauron, who are genuinely maniacally evil, Atreides’ morality and decision making is up for questioning, just like Trump’s.
The song’s surge in popularity comes at a time when Trump is facing heavy legal issues. In late May, New York City jurors convicted the former president of 34 felony counts. Trump is also threatening to sue the creatives behind “The Apprentice,” a film starring Sebastian Stan that dramatizes his cultural rise.
