In a bizarre turn of events, Donald Trump has come under fire for seemingly falsely implying he has the endorsement of pop superstar Taylor Swift. The Republican presidential candidate took to social media to share fake images of the singer and her fans supposedly supporting him, sparking outrage among Swift’s loyal fanbase, known as Swifties.
The images, which were clearly doctored and some even created using artificial intelligence, showed Swift fans wearing t-shirts that read “Swifties for Trump” and a re-imagined World War One US army recruiting poster with Swift’s face replacing Uncle Sam’s, urging people to vote for Trump.
Despite the misleading posts, it is important to note that Taylor Swift has not endorsed any candidate in the 2024 election. In fact, she publicly supported the Democratic Party in the 2020 election and has been vocal in her criticism of Trump during his presidency.
This latest controversy comes on the heels of Swift cancelling three concerts in Vienna due to a possible security threat, with two individuals being arrested on suspicion of planning attacks inspired by the Islamic State group. The timing of Trump’s fake endorsements couldn’t be worse, as Swift continues to deal with the aftermath of these security concerns.
It’s not the first time fake images have been used to manipulate public opinion, as earlier this year the BBC uncovered dozens of deepfakes depicting black individuals supporting Trump. While there is no direct evidence linking these images to Trump’s campaign, it raises questions about the use of misinformation in politics.
As the 2024 election season heats up, it’s clear that both sides will stop at nothing to sway public opinion. But in the case of Taylor Swift, it’s important to remember that she has not thrown her support behind any candidate, despite what fake images may suggest.
