Taylor Swift: Joe Biden’s secret weapon for 2024?

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TAYLOR MOSES: From the Super Bowl to sold-out concerts, Taylor Swift has dominated stadiums across the country and world. After years in the spotlight, though, it is inarguable that Swift’s celebrity status has reached an all-time high. However, with this newfound virality has come  a red wave of far-right conspiracy theories regarding her and the upcoming 2024 presidential election. 

One of the countless conspiracy theories involving the artist stems from her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight-end star Travis Kelce. In light of the team’s Super Bowl win earlier this year, right-wing conspiracy theorists began to craft a narrative of liberal corruption. 

This group of conservative theorists first suggested that the Super Bowl was rigged in the Chiefs’ favor. They elaborated that the win was specifically orchestrated by Democrats to help to reelect Joe Biden by bringing more attention to the liberal-leaning Swift. Despite the larger-than-life nature of this conspiracy theory, it is not just found in the depths of TikTok hashtags or Reddit pages, but has been loudly preached by radio hosts, news anchors, and political candidates. 

Mike Crispi, a conservative podcaster and New Jersey Republican congressional candidate, voiced on X: “The NFL is totally RIGGED for the Kansas City Chiefs, Taylor Swift, Mr. Pfizer (Travis Kelce). All to spread DEMOCRAT PROPAGANDA.” Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy along with other conservative figures such as Alison Steinberg, a host for One America News, have echoed these claims. As Jesse Watters phrased it on Fox News, Kelce and Swift both act as “Pentagon assets” meant to sway young voters to the Democratic side. 

In line with such beliefs, a national survey conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute found nearly one in five Americans believe Swift is an actor in a conspiracy to help Joe Biden win the upcoming presidential election. The Monmouth study surveyed 900 Americans nationwide, with just under half reporting previous familiarity with  the theory. Of those believing in the merits of this theory, 71% lean toward the Republican party, with an overwhelming number planning to vote for Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. 

Swift’s name has not been unknown in right-wing politics before the spread of this  theory. The singer was also recently mentioned by an ally of former president Trump, who claimed that there would be a “holy war” if Swift were to endorse Democratic candidates in the upcoming election. Additionally, Alina Habba, Trump’s lawyer in his defamation case against author E. Jean Carroll, reposted a meme of Habba alongside the star with the caption: “Who thinks this country needs a lot more women like Alina Habba, and a lot less like Taylor Swift?”

Swift has historically taken strong liberal stances on a myriad of issues such as women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. In 2019, Swift released a song entitled “You Need to Calm Down,” with lyrics such as “Cause shade never made anybody less gay.” The song was in direct support of the queer community and condemning those with homophobic and transphobic beliefs. In 2020, Swift posted a picture on Instagram of herself holding  a plate of Biden-Harris 2020-themed cookies. Under the picture, the artist endorsed the soon-to-be president in her caption: “I spoke to @voguemagazine about why I’ll be voting for Joe Biden for President. So apt that it’s come out out on the night of the VP debate. Gonna be watching and supporting @kamalaharris by yelling at the TV a lot.” Although Swift has yet to make an endorsement for the 2024 election, her 2020 post garnered over three million likes, exemplifying the star’s influence. 

Swift’s influence also reaches non-partisan issues, such as encouraging youth to vote. In September 2023, the singer posted her Instagram story encouraging her followers to register to vote through vote.org. Her fanbase, affectionately known as “Swifties,” registered in large numbers, with the site reporting averaging about 13,000 registrations every half hour after the star’s post. 

With Swift’s considerable audience and influence in mind, along with her outwardly liberal views, the conservative uproar at the simple mention of her name is justified. From conspiracy theories to digs to name-drops, Swift and her fan base have become a political force to be reckoned with.

Taylor Moses is a columnist for On the Record. She is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Government and English.