Former President Donald Trump has dismissed speculation that pop icon Taylor Swift might throw her support behind President Joe Biden.
Trump made his views known in a post on Truth Social, referencing legislation he signed during his presidency that benefited music artists.
In his February 11th post, Trump wrote, “I signed and was responsible for the Music Modernization Act for Taylor Swift and all other Musical Artists. Joe Biden didn’t do anything for Taylor, and never will. There’s no way she could endorse Crooked Joe Biden, the worst and most corrupt President in the History of our Country, and be disloyal to the man who made her so much money.”
The Music Modernization Act, which Trump signed into law in 2018, overhauled licensing rules within the music industry. The aim was to ensure songwriters, artists, and producers received a fair deal.
While Swift did endorse Biden in the 2020 presidential race, she has remained tight-lipped about her political leanings for the current election cycle. Rumors had circulated that she would publicly support Biden during the Super Bowl, but no such endorsement came.
Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, took part in the Super Bowl as a player for the Kansas City Chiefs. Some online speculation suggested that the game was fixed to secure a Chiefs victory, thereby boosting the potential impact of a Swift endorsement.
Trump, however, dismissed these theories, stating, “We should be celebrating her, not having all these crazy conspiracy theories.” He added, “My advice to any singer or entertainer would be to keep away from politics.”
Such political endorsements can be complicated and potentially divisive, according to Jonathan Shalit, a talent manager. He warned that endorsing a politician could alienate fans and even pose a physical threat due to “extremists.”
John Mark Hansen, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, suggested that celebrity endorsements have minimal impact overall. “The only story you could tell about Taylor Swift is that it might sway a few younger voters who don’t have established partisan leanings yet,” he said.
In September of last year, Swift encouraged her fans to register to vote, leading to 35,000 registrations at Vote.org. Meanwhile, Trump was reported to have a 9-point advantage in popularity ratings.
