The submit was sandwiched between a screed about capital-gains taxes and a video clip from a Donald Trump rally. 4 phrases, all-caps: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”
Haters gonna hate (hate, hate, hate, hate), Taylor Swift has noticed, and the declare has been validated, now, by an professional. Yesterday morning, Trump made his present emotions about Swift identified on Fact Social—a particularly belated response, it will appear, to the pop star’s endorsement of Kamala Harris, issued final Tuesday night. Whereas “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” was not a proportional response, it was a revealing one—as a result of Trump’s anger didn’t come out of nowhere. It got here, as a substitute, from the identical place so lots of his declarations of hatred do: indignation.
And so, as his fellow Individuals had been going about their Sundays, he took his revenge. He hates Taylor Swift now, the previous president would love you to know. He hates her in all caps. He hates her with an exclamation level.
Swift’s endorsement of Harris might need been sudden, however it was not, strictly, a shock. She has made no secret of her political leanings; she has, in reality, starred in a documentary whose whole premise was her unwillingness to maintain her political leanings to herself. Prior to now, Swift has made her emotions identified by direct endorsements—of the Tennessee congressional candidates Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper in 2018, of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020—and thru blunt commentary. Trump “thinks that is an autocracy,” she mentioned in 2019. Trump spent his presidency “stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism,” she mentioned in 2020. She has criticized his makes an attempt to “subvert and destroy our proper to vote and vote safely.” In August 2020, Swift mentioned that Trump had “chosen to blatantly cheat and put hundreds of thousands of Individuals’ lives in danger in an effort to carry on to energy.”
With these, and along with her newly introduced help for Harris, the artist who sings in poetry made some extent of utilizing prose—strident, clear, unable to be misinterpreted. Whether or not her feedback will sway voters is unknown. However Trump loves adulation, and he doubtless wished Swift’s endorsement—badly sufficient to say her help even when she hadn’t given it: In August, Trump shared a set of pictures that included an image of Swift dressed as Uncle Sam. “Taylor needs you to vote for Donald Trump,” the caption learn.
“I settle for!” Trump “replied” whereas sharing the collage.
This was fakery, all the best way down—and in her Harris endorsement, Swift referred to the incident, writing that it “conjured up my fears round AI, and the hazards of spreading misinformation.” The pictures had been of a bit with different moments that appeared to recommend Trump’s perception that Swift could possibly be charmed into supporting him. In a guide revealed in June, Trump went on the report praising Swift’s look: “I feel she’s lovely—very lovely! I discover her very lovely.” For a second, he conceded the truth: “I feel she’s liberal,” he advised the guide’s writer. “She in all probability doesn’t like Trump.” However then: “I hear she’s very gifted. I feel she’s very lovely, truly—unusually lovely!”
The flattery got here after Trump declared, in February, that “I signed and was answerable for the Music Modernization Act for Taylor Swift and all different Musical Artists. Joe Biden didn’t do something for Taylor, and by no means will.” He added: “There’s no method she may endorse Crooked Joe Biden, the worst and most corrupt President within the Historical past of our Nation, and be disloyal to the person who made her a lot cash.”
Magnificence and riches—these are the currencies Trump understands. And loyalty results in, in his world, remuneration. Swift might have spent years making her emotions identified—however emotions, Trump is aware of, can change. He appeared to consider that he truly may win her endorsement, regardless of her years’ price of protestations. He appeared to consider that she owed him her help. In spite of everything: He had made her cash. He had known as her lovely. What else is there? He had initiated the transaction, and he anticipated to be repaid.
When Swift refused, the previous president responded like a jilted boyfriend: damaged coronary heart, wounded pleasure. Look what you made me do. “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” might learn primarily as pitiable—a 78-year-old man treating the web as his private burn guide. However the submit additionally marks an actual change. When Swift introduced, in 2018, that she could be supporting Bredesen, the Democrat in Tennessee’s senatorial election, Trump was capable of snigger about it: “I like Taylor’s music about 25 % much less now, okay?” he mentioned. The previous laughter has now curdled into one thing extra private and petulant—and doubtlessly harmful. Haters will hate, sure. The query is: to what finish?
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