Taylor Swift walked a fine line on Super Tuesday, encouraging her millions of fans to head to the polls in their respective political parties while avoiding weighing in on any contested races, including the nationwide Republican primary between Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump.
For months, conservatives have been calling for the superstar singer to sit this one out, fearing a repeat of her 2020 endorsement for President Joe Biden and how it might affect the general election in November. However, based on Tuesday’s message Swift does not appear ready to risk her reputation by stumping for the most unpopular incumbent president in history.
“Today, March 5, is the Presidential Primary in Tennessee and 16 other states and territories. I wanted to remind you guys to vote the people who most represent YOU into power,” she wrote in an Instagram story spotted by Fox News. “If you haven’t already, make a plan to vote today.”
“Whether you’re in Tennessee or somewhere else in the US, check your polling places and times at vote.org,” she added.
More than one-third of all delegates for the Republican and Democratic primaries will be awarded today. Voters are heading to the polls in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and American Samoa.
Swift, who is halfway through her two-year, worldwide “Eras” tour, has been thrown into the medley of heated debates about when, where, how, or if celebrities should use their influence to advocate for or against specific politicians. For decades, many well-known actors and singers participated in get-out-the-vote campaigns like MTV’s Rock the Vote initiative, though picking sides inevitably forces them to come down against some fans. Swift, who reportedly earns about $13 million per show on her tour, is no different.
Conservatives such as Candace Owens have picked up on the current anti-Swift sentiment percolating on the right. She recently accused the singer of promoting “toxic” ideas among young women through her lyrics about various boyfriends over the years and her pent-up aggressions towards them. Others have cited work by her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, in promoting a film that leverages green tax credits implemented by President Biden in order to pay for itself.
If one thing is for sure, Swift will think long and hard before sharing her thoughts on a Trump-Biden rematch.
