Mega star Taylor Swift is a target in the US election campaign

According to experts, Taylor Swift, as an absolute mega-star, could definitely influence the outcome of the US presidential election in November. Accordingly, the singer and her huge fan base are met with hostility from representatives of the right-wing camp and vilified in conspiracy stories. The influential Fox News presenter Jesse Waters, for example, insinuated on his show last week that the 34-year-old was active on behalf of the Democratic-led US government. “Have you ever wondered why or how she went through the roof like she did?” said Waters, referring to Swift’s incredible success in show business in recent years.

“Well, about four years ago, the Pentagon’s psychological operations unit floated at a NATO meeting that they were making Taylor Swift a supporter,” the right-wing host added, referring to a video from a NATO cybersecurity summit Year 2019 added. In that video, however, Swift’s name is only mentioned by a scientist with no ties to NATO. He cites the singer as an example of popular stars who can counteract disinformation on social networks.

“Shake off the conspiracy theory”

The Pentagon humorously rejects Waters’ subtle allegations. “As far as this conspiracy theory is concerned, we will shake it off,” said deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh to the AFP news agency, referring to Swift’s hit “Shake it Off”.

Waters also addressed Swift’s influence on the nonprofit portal Vote.org. In September, Swift’s online call to register as a US voter saw a surge in popularity. Waters believes the singer was made to do this “by the White House or whatever.”

In response to an AFP request, Swift’s spokeswoman Tree Paine referred to the reaction of Vote.org boss Andrea Hailey, who denied siding with US President Joe Biden’s Democrats. “Our partnership with Taylor Swift helps all Americans make sure their voices are heard at the ballot box,” Hailey said on the online service X, formerly Twitter.

Waters himself admitted on his primetime show that he had “no evidence” to support his theories about Swift. Fox News did not want to comment publicly when asked.

Swift’s popularity was catapulted to even higher heights last year thanks to various records in the music industry and her relationship with American football player Travis Kelce. “Time” magazine named the musician “Person of the Year.” As Swift’s popularity grows, so do the accusations against her.

• Article on the topic: “Time” magazine names Taylor Swift Personality of the Year 2023

Witch powers at Swift concerts?

Right-wing opinion makers like radio host Stew Peters accuse her of using witchcraft powers during her concerts. Peters also blamed her for “murder” after Kelce appeared in a vaccine ad campaign.

Manipulated images on the Internet are used to place Swift in close proximity to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And even before Waters’ comments, Swift was portrayed as the US Democrats’ secret weapon. A propagator of the QAnon conspiracy myth explained that he had always said that Swift was not only “a satanic witch” but also “a psychological warfare weapon used by the Pentagon to convert many thousands of young voters to the Democrats.”

Experts “concerned about influence”

Former right-wing congressional candidate Laura Loomer also supports this theory. With a view to the supporters of the favorite for the Republican presidential nomination, former President Donald Trump, and Taylor Swift’s millions of fans, she predicts: “In 2024 it will be MAGA against Swifties.”

Bowling Green State University political scientist David Jackson says he can’t imagine a more “desirable” supporter for the November election candidates. Accordingly, even more verbal attacks against the singer can be expected.

Media scientist Johanna Blakley from the University of Southern California also says, with a view to Swift’s previous expressions of sympathy for Biden and the policies of the US Democrats, that the conservative camp is apparently “concerned about the influence she could have” on young Democratic voters . Spreading misinformation about the singer is “a deeply insidious attempt to undermine and potentially forestall Swift’s likely endorsement of Biden.”

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