Former President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is not a fan of pop star Taylor Swift. His comments came shortly after Swift endorsed Kamala Harris for president, leading Trump to express his feelings on Truth Social with a bold declaration: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”
Following a debate between Harris and Trump, Swift voiced her support for the Democratic vice president on Instagram, highlighting her belief in Harris as a strong advocate for the rights and issues she cares about. With over 280 million followers, Swift stated, “She fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”
Swift’s endorsement was partly motivated by her desire to clarify that she was not supporting Trump, who had shared an AI-generated image implying her endorsement of his campaign. He later claimed ignorance regarding the images.
Historically, Swift has used her platform to promote civic engagement, notably in 2018 when her political endorsements spurred tens of thousands to register to vote. Her recent endorsement contributed to over 300,000 visits to the voter registration site Vote.gov.
Despite Swift’s influence, an ABC News/Ipsos poll indicated that her endorsement did not significantly sway voters toward Harris. Celebrity endorsements can be double-edged swords; they often attract attention but may alienate different segments of the fan base.
In a subsequent interview on Fox News, Trump downplayed Swift’s endorsement, asserting he was never a fan and suggesting she would face repercussions in the marketplace for her liberal views. The evening of the interview, at the MTV Video Music Awards, Swift encouraged viewers to register to vote for the upcoming presidential election while accepting an award.