Donald Trump Suggests Taylor Swift Will “Pay a Price in the Marketplace” After Harris Endorsement
Donald Trump has responded to Taylor Swift’s post-presidential debate endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting on Fox News this morning that the pop sensation’s career will be impacted by her decision to back his rival in the tight race for the White House.
Swift broke her silence on the 2024 U.S. presidential election almost immediately after Tuesday night’s debate between former President Trump and Harris concluded. The singer-songwriter with unprecedentedly devoted fans wrote to her 283 million followers on Instagram that there was a clear choice in the upcoming election after viewing the performances of the two presidential candidates in Philadelphia. Appearing on Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning, Trump blew off the potentially powerful endorsement from Swift.
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“I was not a Taylor Swift fan,” Trump told the hosts. “It was just a question of time. She couldn’t possibly endorse Biden … But she’s a very liberal person. She seems to always endorse a Democrat, and she’ll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace.”
Trump then praised soccer player Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, for liking one of his posts on X (formerly Twitter). Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, is the Chiefs’ tight end.
In her endorsement, Swift also mentioned a recent instance of a deepfake, created with artificial intelligence, of her likeness claiming to the world that she was endorsing Trump, not Harris.
“Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” she wrote in her post. “The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
Swift, who avoided political speech for years before wading into the waters of endorsements in 2018 to sizable results, concluded by urging her fans to register to vote. “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first-time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early,” she wrote. “I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story.
“With love and hope, Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady,” the pop sensation signed off her message, referencing Trump’s VP pick J. D. Vance’s past comments about women who don’t have children.
Back in 2018, Trump also dismissed Swift after she endorsed two Democrats running in the state of Tennessee by saying, “Let’s say I like Taylor’s music about 25 percent less now, OK?”
Also on Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, Trump said ABC News debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis were unfair to him and that it was “three against one.” He also said he was “less inclined” to debate Harris again. Meanwhile, Harris’ team has continued to ask for another debate, indicating confidence that she won the debate round, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday morning.
In their post-debate statement, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Harris-Walz Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon asked, in part, “Under the bright lights, the American people got to see the choice they will face this fall at the ballot box: between moving forward with Kamala Harris, or going backwards with Trump. That’s what they saw tonight and what they should see at a second debate in October. Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?”
Jackie Strause contributed to this story.
Sept. 11, 10 a.m. Updated with Harris-Walz campaign statement.
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