On Sunday, Taylor Swift did something that she’s never done before: she used her popstar platform to promote a political candidate, specifically the Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee, Phil Bredesen, who could use the help after falling behind in the polls and angering his fellow left-wingers. On Monday, President Trump had some fun with his response to Swift getting political.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Swift said she was voting for Bredesen over Republican Marsha Blackburn because her voting record “appalls and terrifies me.” In her statement, the singer painted Blackburn as anti-LGBT and anti-woman. She did not address Bredesen announcing to his fellow Democrats’ dismay that he would have voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh — an announcement that got him swiftly un-endorsed by MoveOn.org.
“In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” she wrote (full post below). “I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love.”
She continued: “Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives.”
Asked about her comments on the White House’s South Lawn on Monday, Trump said he believes Blackburn is “doing a very good job in Tennessee” and suspects that Swift doesn’t know much about her.
“I’m sure Taylor Swift has nothing — or doesn’t know anything about her,” he said, CNN reports.
“Let’s say that I like Taylor’s music about 25% less now, OK?” he added with a laugh.