Former U.S. president Donald Trump declared his disdain for Taylor Swift on 15 September, just days after the pop star endorsed U.S. presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Swift made her endorsement on the night of the presidential debate between Trump and Harris on 11 September, where many perceived Harris to have performed better. Trump subsequently announced on 12 September that there would be no more presidential debates with Vice President Harris ahead of the 5 November election. Swift’s endorsement, posted on her Instagram account with 284 million followers, stated her intention to vote for Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, in the 2024 Presidential Election.
Background
Swift’s endorsement came in response to an AI-generated image falsely suggesting she supported Trump. She expressed her concerns about AI and misinformation, stating, “The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.” Swift signed off her endorsement as “Childless Cat Lady,” referencing a previous comment by Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance. This endorsement added fuel to the ongoing tension between Trump and Swift, which has been a recurring theme in recent years.
Trump’s previous post
On 19 August, Trump, the 78-year-old Republican nominee, shared a series of images on Truth Social depicting Taylor Swift fans wearing t-shirts that said “Swifties for Trump.” One image appeared to be an AI-generated photo of Swift in a World War I U.S. Army recruiting poster, while another showed a satirical headline, “Swifties turning to Trump after ISIS foiled Taylor Swift concert.” Trump responded to these images with “I accept!”, falsely implying that Swift had endorsed him.
Swift’s response
Swift took to Instagram to clarify her stance, stating, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.” She also added a link to her bio with information on voter registration and early voting dates. This move was seen as an effort to mobilise her massive fan base to participate in the upcoming election.
Trump’s reaction
Following Swift’s public backing of Harris, Trump expressed his displeasure during a call to Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” show, stating, “I was not a Taylor Swift fan” and adding, “she’ll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace.” Instead, Trump praised Brittany Mahomes, who is married to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, highlighting his preference for her over Swift.
Future implications
The clash between Trump and Swift underscores the broader cultural and political divides in the United States. Swift’s endorsement of Harris and her proactive stance against misinformation reflect a growing trend of celebrities using their platforms to influence political discourse. As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, the impact of such endorsements on voter behaviour and the overall election outcome remains to be seen.
