Trump’s All-Caps Attack on Taylor Swift Draws Backlash From Both Sides

Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump launched a fiery and unexpected all-caps attack on pop superstar Taylor Swift via his Truth Social account. The post, simply stating “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” was sandwiched between a rant about capital-gains taxes and a video clip from a Trump rally. It came as a delayed response to Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, made the previous Tuesday.

Though Trump’s outburst seemed disproportionate, it revealed the depth of his frustration, rooted in Swift’s long-standing political stance. Over the years, Swift has not shied away from criticizing Trump, once accusing him of “stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism” during his presidency and speaking out against his attempts to undermine the voting system in 2020.

Trump’s harsh comment about Swift ignited backlash, even among his loyal supporters. On Truth Social—typically a safe space for the MAGA faithful—many were left puzzled. Comments like “Why are you doing this?” and “This one isn’t going to help much” filled the thread, with some speculating that Trump’s account had been hacked. Others advised him not to take on Swift’s massive and dedicated fanbase, the Swifties.

Just three months earlier, Trump had praised Swift, calling her “unusually beautiful” and “very talented,” which made Sunday’s attack even more confusing to followers. While Swift’s endorsement of Harris might not have surprised those familiar with her political history, Trump’s aggressive reaction left many scratching their heads. Some of his supporters even pointed out that attacking one of the most popular global pop stars was unlikely to help his campaign.

Swift’s influence has long been a point of contention for the political right, with some Republicans struggling to understand her immense popularity. Trump, in a previous interview with Fox News, had commented that Swift’s consistent endorsement of Democrats might hurt her in “the marketplace.” However, political analysts argue that attacking Swift could backfire on Trump, as her loyal fanbase shows no signs of abandoning her over political differences.

Swift herself has yet to respond directly to Trump’s post, but, as her fans would say, she’s likely to “shake it off” while the former president faces criticism from both sides.