Commentary
Will Taylor Swift Endorse Biden? A 'Holy War' To Come?
- by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, February 6, 2024
Former President Trump promoters think they can discourage Taylor Swift from getting involved in politics -- and perhaps in endorsing Joe Biden for president.
So how exactly would those efforts appear on TV, on social media, at her concerts, or elsewhere?
This is not exactly new territory for Swift -- or any high-profile musical artist or celebrity. Back in 2018, Swift endorsed two Democrats running during the midterms in her home state of Tennessee.
Now, a Rolling Stone article says one Trump operative promises a “Holy War' against Swift if she gets involved.
Does that mean a church-based operation?
Fox News Channel host Jeanine Pirro warned Swift not to enter. “Don't get involved. Don’t get involved in politics; we don’t want to see you there.. Joe Biden is in [a] hole with young people -- he knows it.”
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Will Trump supporters form picket lines outside Swift concert venues? Would that attract more media attention to Swift? And is that ultimately what our media-hungry ex-President would like to see?
To be sure, it seems Biden operators for his re-election are indeed looking for celebrity as well as other types of endorsements. But this isn't all that new in the world of politics.
Musical artists Cardi B, Common and Bad Bunny are among many who were supporters of Biden in 2020.
And we also remember Kanye West supporting Trump in 2016, and to a somewhat lesser extent in 2020 when he decided to run for the top office himself.
For decades, politicians have used the influence of prominent musicians and entertainers when it comes to their political campaigns. So... what's the big deal?
Perhaps it has to do with Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs and is headed into another Super Bowl game this week.
This is the one game that gets over 100 million TV viewers, and CBS cameras could find their way into the stands to perhaps get a few happy visual moments from Swift. A nice visual. Should the Chiefs win again, there may be another big-screen kiss, as there was in the AFC Championship game a week ago.
Swift has been savvy in her entertainment marketing, and may become so with political marketing. This past weekend after winning some more Grammy hardware -- some 10 million viewers were probably at hand for that live event -- she announced a new forthcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
Some anxious and tortured politicians might feel that messaging.
Wayne Friedman is West Coast Editor of MediaPost. You can reach Wayne at wayne@mediapost.com.
Celebraties don't sway me to vote for a canidate who they support ever and I saw a poll on that it was evenly split at 17% that would support who Taylor Swift was supporting and 17% that wouldn't be swayed. I like Taylor Swift music I don't care who she supports for president which will be Joe Biden she supported him in 2020.