The tweet was unexpected, even from the often provocative Donald Trump: "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!" the former president declared on Sunday. The all-caps message was posted without any additional commentary or explanation, but the context was unmistakable. Just days earlier, shortly after a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, which many viewed as a loss for Trump, the renowned singer/songwriter took to Instagram to announce her support for his Democratic opponent. Swift praised Harris as a "steady-handed, gifted leader." While celebrity endorsements typically don't sway many votes, Swift's immense popularity sets her apart, boasting over 100 million followers on social media—10 million of whom "liked" her Instagram post.
Reactions on social media platform X were swift, with one user commenting, "Going after Taylor Swift is a genuinely bad campaign strategy. Taylor doesn't get mad, she gets even." It remains unclear what Trump hoped to achieve by targeting Swift, though he might believe that any attention is better than none. His recent association with conspiracy-minded right-wing influencer Laura Loomer has drawn criticism, even from fellow Republicans. Loomer, who has suggested that the Sept. 11 terror attacks were an "inside job" and that some mass shootings were staged by Democrats, recently implied that Swift's relationship with football star Travis Kelce was an "arranged" affair aimed at influencing the 2024 election. However, there is no evidence to substantiate these claims.
