TRUMP vs. SWIFT: Trump campaign braces for a “holy war” against the pop star
In a recent development, Donald Trump and his team have finally determined that Taylor Swift is a force of nature, a once-in-a-generation talent. But more frightening to Trump’s team, she also has a powerful political voice and has demonstrated that she has the courage to use it — and they know she’ll use it again.
Meanwhile, Trump remains bitter about Swift being Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, even though he has reliably missed the important element that may impact his electoral chances in 2024.
Trump states that he is more popular than Swift.
That is probably true if one measures the American electorate. But the point remains that she is popular enough to swing a close election.
As Rolling Stone reports:
“Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift hasn’t even endorsed President Joe Biden for reelection yet. That hasn’t stopped members of MAGAland’s upper crust from plotting to declare — as one source close to Donald Trump calls it — a “holy war” on the pop megastar, especially if she ends up publicly backing the Democrats in the 2024 election.”
Holy war? And the “hasn’t endorsed Joe Biden” certainly should be followed by the word “yet.”
So, they best get prepared for their war, holy or unholy. (A holy war implies fighting for truth and justice; an unholy war would be one based on lies and deception.)
Again, Donald Trump remains both arrogant and defiant — oh, and stupid, too. From the report:
“Trump has also privately claimed that he is “more popular” than Swift and that he has more committed fans than she does, a person close to Trump and another source with knowledge of the matter tell Rolling Stone.”
And here is where we reach Trump’s breathless stupidity in his political analysis. “More committed fans” has nothing to do with anything. As I noted above, Swift may influence — may — influence three to whatever percentage of the total electorate, and that percentage might well pull Biden over the top.
As Trump is prone to do, he also believes that the NFL set all this up to hurt him personally and his political chances.
The NFL is powerful but not that powerful. Only conspiracy theories on the right contain that kind of power.
There are also down races to consider. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), from Swift’s current home state, is on the verge of a breakdown over the pop chanteuse.
Below is a recent Fox News interview with Blackburn in which they state that 18% of voters may have their votes swayed by Swift in the direction of a Swift-backed candidate.
That seems artificially high to back their story. They source a private or lesser-known pollster. Regardless, the point is not who is most popular or the percentage. The point is who can sway the elections.
If that 18% number is indeed correct, Blackburn is not washing it off but swallowing mightily:
lmao Marsha Blackburn is terrified of Taylor Swift. Get a load of this response. pic.twitter.com/DvbMzPPynG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 31, 2024
She seems most upset to those of us who know she would be upset hearing such a statistic.
For the last time, we’ll revisit Team Trump’s response to all of this. But remember, he’s mostly upset about the Time Magazine cover, a petty and vengeful reaction that Trump has sculpted to perfection:
“Trump-y media figures — have been brainstorming different ways to go after Swift. Since late last year, these Trump allies have repeatedly discussed how to turn the culture-warrior dial up to 11 if she re-endorses Biden this year, the sources recount,” Rolling Stone writes.
Firstly, No war, holy or otherwise, will ever get Swift to endorse Trump.
Second, she will endorse Joe Biden unless she shuts up, and we know that isn’t going to happen.
Third, the best they can hope for is young voter malaise again, thinking they deserve a better choice, one closer to their age.
Yes, and good luck warring against this young(ish) woman:
This report is based on original reporting by Adam Rawnsley and Asawin Suebsaeng of Rolling Stone
I can be reached at jasonmiciak@gmail.com and on “X” @JasonMiciak
Editor’s note: This is an opinion column that solely reflects the opinions of the author
