Taylor Fromel

Members of the alt-right faction, or Republicans, along with none other than the crowned prince of the party himself, Donald J. Trump, have decided to begin a perilous “holy” war that may just cost them everything they had hoped to win in this election cycle.  

This is the beginning of a culture war against Taylor Swift.  

An article from Rolling Stone decried this surreal scene first, painting an image of vocal Republicans hoping to dismiss the pop giant before she could endorse a 2024 political candidate. While Swift has taken no decisive political action yet, many believe that she will throw her influence toward the incumbent, President Joe Biden. This, of course, is not a far-fetched claim, as she has used her influence for Biden in the past, specifically against Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and her supporting the current president’s 2020 candidacy.   

Such a move would truly be influential, as Swift’s base of followers is large and has been only emboldened by her recent dating activity regarding Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, Travis Kelce. This also comes at a time when the Biden campaign is trailing in polling numbers and is seeming to lose the “young” vote over policy issues and his dealing with the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Not to mention that Taylor Swift is on Biden’s “wish list of potential surrogates,” as the New York Times reported.  

Up to this point, Republican fear of Taylor Swift and the massive influence she holds almost seems warranted and legitimate. She is a highly influential figure and has proven this in a post that mobilized 35,000 voters to take to the polls. Yet the absurdity of the culture war stems from those who have taken anti-Swift rhetoric from personal admonishment to a paranoia-filled echo chamber that churns out new conspiracies faster than flat earthers.  

As any football fan could tell you, Taylor Swift has been the star of the show this past football season, much to the disdain of some and the pleasure of others. Yet this is where the insanity of the holy war begins, as many alt-right members believe that her relationship with Kelce is a planned and carefully articulated plot to boost Biden in the polls. The conspiracy posits that the NFL has specifically pre-ordained the Chiefs to attend the Super Bowl and win, giving Swift a base of millions to give her political endorsement. While there is no denying her influence or the effect she may have on the elections, there are simply no facts to back up this claim. Yet many see it differently, with some going so far as to believe that the fictional plan has been set up by the Pentagon itself, trying to push its “deep state” agenda.  

Regardless of this ridiculousness, one thing is clear. Many members of the right are shaking in their proverbial boots over the possibility of a Swift endorsement of the Biden Campaign. And while many Swifties are not taking this attack kindly, if anything, this should be considered a compliment to Taylor herself.  

While, of course, the ridiculous claims of a “deep state” conspiracy should not be lauded, her overwhelming popularity should be. She has reached a level of fame that few, if any, have attained. Taylor has become such an international figure, garnering millions of followers, that she has now attained political influence, the likes of which have rarely been seen. 

These attacks and conspiracies only highlight her sway and prove what a powerful person she truly is. What might have begun as a treacherous and mean “holy war” against Taylor Swift may just end up being the greatest compliment she has ever received.