August 20th 2024.
Taylor Swift has not publicly endorsed any presidential candidate during this election cycle. However, former President Donald Trump has taken it upon himself to claim her endorsement, despite it not actually existing.
In a recent post on his Truth Social account, Trump shared a carousel of images – some of which are believed to be artificial intelligence-generated. One of these manipulated photos portrays Swift as Uncle Sam with the text, "Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump." The other images show fans of Swift wearing "Swifties for Trump" t-shirts.
While Swift's representative did not respond to CNN's request for comment, it is worth noting that one of the posts shared by Trump is actually satire. The post includes fake AI-generated photos of "Swifties for Trump," referencing a planned terrorist attack at one of Swift's concerts that was foiled earlier this month. The caption reads, "Swifties turning to Trump after ISIS foiled Taylor Swift concert."
The original account that shared this post clarified that it was indeed satire. A website editor named Jessica McBride also reached out to CNN, claiming that two of the photos Trump shared were actually taken at his rally in Wisconsin back in June. The woman in these photos, identified as Jenna Piwowarczyk, is a real person and not AI-generated.
McBride explained that there are many Swift fans who hold conservative values and have expressed their support for Trump and the "Swifties for Trump" movement. She believes that the media is focusing too much on the AI-generated photos instead of recognizing that there are real people out there who support both Swift and Trump.
Swift's fanbase, known as "Swifties," has become more politically active during this election cycle. After President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, a large group of Swift's fans formed a community called "Swifties for Kamala," which is not affiliated with the singer. This group has over 60,000 followers on social media and has been working to support Harris and other Democratic candidates.
While there is no official "Swifties for Trump" group, there are conservative fans of Swift who have expressed their support for the former president on their individual social media accounts. Trump's campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, has even claimed that "Swifties for Trump" is a "massive movement."
In 2020, Swift publicly endorsed Biden and Harris in their bid for the White House. She spoke about her decision to endorse them, stating that she believes the change we need most is to elect leaders who will support marginalized communities and their rights.
Despite not endorsing Harris in her current presidential run, Swift has fueled fan speculation through her actions. For example, after a recent show on her "Eras" tour, some fans believed that a silhouette of a woman on stage was meant to represent Harris. However, CNN debunked this theory, stating that the silhouette was actually one of Swift's background singers.
Swift, who was not politically vocal during the beginning of her career, has become more outspoken in recent years. She is an advocate for the LGBTQ community and has been vocal about women's rights and reproductive health. In her 2020 documentary, "Miss Americana," she expressed regret for not speaking up about political causes sooner. She also stated that she does not care about facing backlash for speaking out against Trump.
Swift has expressed her disdain for Trump multiple times, including in a tweet where she stated that she believes he has stoked racism and white supremacy throughout his presidency. She also urged her followers to vote him out in November. A spokesperson for "Swifties for Kamala" responded to Trump's post of AI-generated photos, stating that their group stands for values that align with Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz. They believe that Harris and Walz will fight for their rights and make America a safer place for everyone.
Despite claiming to accept Swift's non-existent endorsement, Trump has acknowledged that she likely does not actually support him. In a new book called "Apprentice in Wonderland," Trump is quoted as saying, "I think she's beautiful – very beautiful! I find her very beautiful. I think she's liberal. She probably doesn't like Trump." This statement has caused Swift's left-leaning fans to tell Trump to "stay away" from her.
In conclusion, while Trump may claim to have Swift's endorsement, it is clear that she does not actually support him. She has publicly endorsed Democratic candidates and has been vocal about her beliefs and values. The media should not focus on AI-generated images but rather recognize that there are real people who support both Swift and conservative values.
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