Why Trump Supporters Attack Taylor Swift

Many Republicans have fiercely attacked Taylor Swift, fearing that her influence with young Americans could give President Biden an advantage.

Singer Taylor Swift has been shining wherever she goes, on stages around the world , cheering on her boyfriend at NFL games, or on Grammy nominations. Now, Swift continues to be the focus of conservative Republican voters, enthusiastic supporters of former President Donald Trump, due to concerns that she could influence this year's White House race.

Earlier this week, US media reported that President Joe Biden's campaign was trying to convince the star to support him in his bid to compete with Trump, who is the leading Republican candidate.

Singer Taylor Swift in Los Angeles, California, USA, October 2023. Photo: Reuters — Singer Taylor Swift in Los Angeles, California, USA, October 2023. Photo: *Reuters*

Although Swift has not made any public comments, the media story has sparked outrage among the Republican right, fueling a wave of attacks against her.

Some prominent Republicans, such as Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that promotes conservative politics , warned that Swift's endorsement of President Biden could create a "tsunami that would be difficult to stop."

Conservative pundits on right-wing media outlets like Fox News , One America Network , and Newsmax have also spent a lot of time discussing Swift over the past week. Looking directly into the camera on January 29, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro sent a message specifically to the singer: "Stay out of politics, we don't want to see you there."

Biden’s campaign has focused on courting major political groups like unions, but it appears to understand that an endorsement from a pop culture icon like Taylor Swift could help the president reach younger voters.

Campaigns calling on celebrities to express support for their candidates is nothing new in US elections, and with Swift's strong influence, she could attract millions of voters nationwide.

When local elections took place in the US last year, Swift shared a message on Instagram encouraging fans to register to vote.

"I've been so lucky to see you at my recent shows in the US. I've heard your voices and I know how powerful you are. Make sure you're ready to use that power in our election this year," the singer wrote.

Traffic to vote.org spiked more than 1,200%, creating a record number of visits to the voter registration website that day. 35,252 new voters were registered, the most since 2020.

There are millions of Swifties around the world and their love for the singer is so great that her Eras Tour has generated billions of dollars in profits, not only for the pop star but also for the US economy .

On January 29, Fox News host Jesse Watters acknowledged the power of Swifties. Describing them as “a large and emotional demographic,” Watters noted that “if Taylor likes something, they like it.”

For much of her career, Swift has tended to stay away from politics. That changed in 2018, when she endorsed Democratic Rep. Phil Bredesen in his race for a Tennessee Senate seat against Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Swift said that in the past, she "didn't want to publicly express" her political views, but "due to some events in my life and in the world over the past two years," she felt "things were different."

"I always will and will vote based on which candidate protects and fights for the human rights that I believe we all deserve in this country," the singer added.

Bredesen lost the race to Blackburn in Tennessee, but Swift later opened up more about her decision to publicly support the Democratic candidate in the 2020 documentary "Miss Americana," in which she revealed her regrets about not speaking out against Trump in 2016.

In the documentary, Swift is told by her advisers that her endorsement of Bredesen could make the public think she was opposing former President Trump.

“I don’t care,” Swift said. “I’m so sad that I didn’t speak up two years ago.”

Brennan Suen, deputy director of external affairs at left-leaning media watchdog group Media Matters, said Swift has been “praised for years” for not talking about politics. Now, conservative Republican influencers appear to be trying to get her to “shut up and just focus on singing” by constantly bombarding her with inflammatory rhetoric designed to scare her into declaring her support for anyone.

Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren warned Swift earlier this week that "if she wants to protect her legacy, she should stay out of politics."

Swift has been publicly dating Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce for the past few months. The high-profile romance has not only renewed interest in the sport among Swift's fan base, but has also fueled a slew of unfounded claims from the pro-Trump right.

According to them, Kelce and his teammates' entry into the Super Bowl, the final of the American National Football League, will certainly attract Taylor Swift to appear at the event. They believe that this is all an arrangement by the Democratic Party to attract viewers to vote for President Biden.

Travis Kelce celebrates with Taylor Swift after a game in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 28. Photo: AFP — Travis Kelce celebrates with Taylor Swift after a game in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 28. Photo: *AFP*

Kelce himself has drawn criticism from conservatives for being sponsored by Bud Light, whose collaboration with a transgender actress last year angered some right-wing Republicans, and for appearing in Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine ads, a move that has alienated the anti-vaccination crowd.

Watters on January 29 called Swift and Kelce's relationship "designed in a lab," implying the love between the two was "staged" for political purposes.

“Major sports leagues themselves are nothing more than a psychological game,” Steinberg added.

But Jennifer Lawless, a political science professor at the University of Virginia, countered that right-wing pundits are “bringing partisan politics to football,” not Taylor Swift.

"The average person watching the game will be fascinated because she's there as a global star, not because she might vote for Joe Biden," Lawless said.

According to her, right-wing pundits seem to "worry that by having someone like Taylor Swift, President Biden's campaign can energize young people in a way that he himself couldn't."

Swifties are largely young women, a group of voters that Republicans are having trouble convincing to support, especially after the US Supreme Court overturned a ruling recognizing women's right to abortion.

Following the court's 2022 decision, Swift emphasized her support for abortion rights in a post on Twitter, now the social network X. She has also repeatedly expressed her support for the LGBTQ community as well as her stance against racial inequality.

Former President Donald Trump at a campaign event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, January 17. Photo: AP

In a statement on January 31, the Gen Z-focused group Voters of Tomorrow issued a warning to conservative forces seeking to attack Swift fans.

“Gen Z knew Trump was trouble the moment he entered the White House and waged war on abortion rights, voting rights, and our safety,” the group said. “By picking a fight with Taylor, you’re picking a fight with young voters. And the last thing you’re going to get is an even worse reputation come November.”

Vu Hoang (according to Washington Post, Reuters, AFP )

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