WEST PALM BEACH, USA – Former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on pop superstar Taylor Swift via Truth Social on Sunday, September 15, 2024, just days after Swift publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
In an all-caps post that caught attention for its intensity, Trump declared, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” at 10:44 a.m., kicking off a fresh feud that has dominated social media.
Trump’s outburst follows Swift’s high-profile endorsement of Harris after the September 10 presidential debate.
In an Instagram post featuring a photo of herself holding a cat, Swift wrote, “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” a subtle jab at Senator J.D. Vance’s past comments about “childless cat ladies.”
In addition to supporting Harris, Swift also criticized Trump for sharing AI-generated images that falsely depicted her and her fans supporting his campaign.
The endorsement quickly became a rallying point for Harris supporters, and the Harris-Walz campaign wasted no time responding to Trump’s post with a witty statement packed with references to Swift’s songs.
Sarafina Chitka, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, posted the response on X (formerly Twitter), opening with, “We’re pretty sure it’s Safe (& Sound) to say Donald Trump’s week has him Down Bad.”
NEW from @KamalaHQ: Trump's Bad Week (Taylor's Version)
Mr. Not-at-all Fine spent his week working through his feelings, spouting conspiracy theories, and whining about his Champagne Problems
Call It What You Want, but it’s Nothing New for the Smallest Man Who Ever Lived >>> pic.twitter.com/armGoGIqsv
— Sarafina Chitika (@SarafinaChitika) September 15, 2024
The playful statement, filled with nods to Swift’s music, capitalised on the viral moment to further energize the campaign.
Swift’s Influence and Trump’s Retaliation
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Swift’s endorsement had a measurable impact, as her post led over 406,000 people to visit Vote.gov, the voter registration site linked in her message.
The Harris-Walz campaign also leveraged Swift’s popularity by selling friendship bracelets inspired by the singer’s signature style. Preorders for the $20 bracelets sold out almost immediately.
However, not all of the news was positive for the Harris camp.
A YouGov poll released Saturday showed that while Swift’s endorsement generated excitement among her fans, it had a limited influence on broader voter sentiment.
The poll revealed that only 8 per cent of respondents were “somewhat” or “much more likely” to vote for Harris because of Swift’s endorsement.
Trump’s Continued Criticism
In the days following Swift’s endorsement, Trump extended his criticism beyond the singer. In additional Truth Social posts on Sunday morning, he lashed out at “THE FAILING NEW YORK TIMES” and the U.S. Postal Service, indicating a weekend filled with grievances.
Trump also appeared on Fox & Friends last Wednesday, where he commented on Swift’s political stance, predicting that she would “pay a price… in the marketplace” for supporting a Democrat.
Despite his warning, Swift’s popularity shows no signs of waning, and her support for Harris has only added to the cultural and political conversation surrounding the 2024 election.
As Swift and Trump continue to exchange barbs, the pop star’s foray into the political arena has again proven her influence, even as its tangible effects on voter behaviour remain unclear.
With the election rapidly approaching, both campaigns will be watching closely to see how much “bad blood” can sway the outcome.
