Former President Donald Trump is dismissing pop star Taylor Swift’s decision to back Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she is a “very liberal person” and her endorsement wasn’t a surprise.
Mr. Trump pointed to the support he’s received from Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“I actually like Mrs. Mahomes much better, if you want to know the truth. She’s a big Trump fan,” Mr. Trump told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”
“She’s a big, she’s a big MAGA fan,” he said. “Much better than Taylor Swift.”
Mr. Trump pointed to Mrs. Mahomes because she and Ms. Swift hang out in the stadium suites at Chiefs games. Ms. Swift is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Still, Ms. Swift is a megastar whose recent tour had economy-altering impacts on the cities she visited, so her input will likely reverberate.
SEE ALSO: ‘Shake It Off’: Trump dismisses Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris
She backed Ms. Harris in an Instagram post after Tuesday night’s presidential debate in Philadelphia.
“I think she is a steady-handed gifted leader, and I believe we can accomplish so much more in the country if we are led by calm and not chaos,” the pop star posted.
Ms. Swift also pointed to Mr. Trump’s decision to post artificial intelligence-created images that falsely suggested she had endorsed him. She said it confirmed her fears about AI and its ability to spread bogus information.
“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,” she wrote.
Mr. Trump said Ms. Swift’s decision would backfire with part of her fan base.
“She seems to always endorse a Democrat, and she’ll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace,” he said.
It’s unclear if Ms. Swift’s endorsement will significantly impact voter preference in swing states or elsewhere.
Still, the endorsement sparked a reaction beyond Mr. Trump.
Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert surprised his audience with news of the endorsement, sparking cheers.
X owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a Trump supporter and the richest man in the world, raised eyebrows with an unusual tweet that leaned into Ms. Swift dubbing herself a “childless cat lady.”
“Fine Taylor … you win … I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life,” Mr. Musk wrote.
Ms. Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, reacted on television as part of a live post-debate interview.
“I am incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift. I say that, also, as a fellow cat owner,” Mr. Walz told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. “That was eloquent, and it was clear, and that’s the type of courage we need in America.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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