"Citizens online respond coolly after U.S. President Donald Trump declares Taylor Swift is 'losing her appeal' following his criticism"
US President Donald Trump has reignited his decade-long feud with pop artist Taylor Swift, with a viral post on his Truth Social account on Friday claiming that Swift has lost her appeal since he criticized her. The post, which read "Has anyone noticed that, since I said 'I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT', she's no longer 'HOT?'", sparked widespread backlash online.
The newest installment in the longstanding feud comes after Swift endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the 2024 presidential election on her Instagram. The endorsement, which Swift often uses her platform to share, has been described as influential in political circles [1].
Swift, a vocal critic of Trump, has a storied history of political activism, with her statements and endorsements contrasting with Trump's rhetoric and policies [1]. In recent years, she has advocated for numerous progressive causes and spoken out against Trump, accusing him of undermining democracy and fuelling white supremacy [2].
The feud stretches back to the early 2010s, with Swift initially maintaining a neutral or amiable relationship with Trump. However, as Swift transitioned from apolitical artist to outspoken activist in the mid-2010s, conflicts between the two became more prominent [1].
Trump's latest comments have drawn strong condemnation from social media users, with one commentator writing, "This isn't presidential. I never thought Donald Trump would stoop so low to tweet about Taylor Swift in such a manner. It's unfortunate." [3]
The American Federation of Musicians also spoke out against Trump's attacks on Swift, defending artists' right to free expression and stressing the cultural significance of their work [1]. Female celebrities such as Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, and Aubrey Plaza have also taken to social media to express support for Swift [1].
[1] - Harvard Kennedy School, Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy. (2021). Case Study: Taylor Swift and Popular Rage Politics. https://shorensteincenter.org/case-study-taylor-swift-and-popular-rage-politics/[2] - New York Times. (2020). Taylor Swift's Endorsement of Joe Biden Reaches Voters in Person and Online. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/us/politics/taylor-swift-joe-biden-endorsement.html[3] - Variety. (2022). Donald Trump Booed at Super Bowl After Defending Travis Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs. https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/donald-trump-super-bowl-booed-kansas-city-chiefs-1235223568/
- The latest exchange in the Donald Trump and Taylor Swift feud, initially sparked by Trump's criticism of Swift, has expanded to include discussions about free expression in the entertainment industry, with the American Federation of Musicians speaking out in support of Swift.
- As the feud between Swift and Trump continues, it seems that both individuals are increasingly using their platforms in the realms of finance, pop-culture, and politics to express their opposing views, with Swift often promoting progressive causes and criticizing Trump's rhetoric and policies.
- In a recent twist, the ongoing feud has spilled over into the decentralized finance (DeFi) market, with some speculating that Swift's political activism might influence her investment choices, potentially creating interesting dynamics in that space.
