Donald Trump said he likes Taylor Swift’s music “25 percent less” following her post about politics.
The US president said that Swift “doesn’t know anything” about Republican senate nominee Marsha Blackburn, who she criticised on Instagram over the weekend.
The singer songwriter wrote that she usually feels reluctant about sharing her political beliefs, but that over the past two years she changed her mind.
She said:
“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.”
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Swift said that she could not vote for somebody who didn’t fight for the rights of all Americans, “no matter their skin colour, gender, or who they love.”
This includes Blackburn, who is running for Senate in the state of Tennessee where Swift will be voting in the midterm elections next month.
She said that Blackburn’s political views “appalls” and “terrifies” her.
“She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorisation 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.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BohGHnXnFQj/?hl=en&taken-by=taylorswift
Swift instead endorsed Democratic candidates Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper.
She also encouraged the US public to educate themselves on what each of their candidates stand for and to register to vote before the deadline on October 9.
According to Buzzfeed News, voter registration has seen a “massive spike” since the singer’s post on Sunday.
Kamari Guthrie, director of communications for Vote.org, told the publication that 65,000 people registered in the 24-hour period following Swift’s message.
Swift previously stated that she didn’t speak about politics because she “might influence other people.”
