Faced with the growing popularity of former President Donald Trump, who is gaining momentum in securing the Republican nomination, President Joe Biden's team is working tirelessly to orchestrate an anti-Trump plan that will likely raise a lot of controversy.
According to the newspaper The New York Times, part of Biden's electoral strategy focuses on that the 2024 elections are not a referendum on his management but towards the last term of former President Donald Trump, seeking to repeat the fear campaign of 2020 that generated so much electoral revenue for the Democrats.
But, in addition to promoting anti-Trump rhetoric, Biden is also seeking to reach voters who do not consume news from the traditional press but through social media. To do so, he is trying to get the support of influencers and artists with significant followers on TikTok and Instagram. According to the newspaper, Biden's dream would be to obtain the endorsement of global pop star Taylor Swift.
According to the NYT, the Biden campaign has, in fact, already started conversations with celebrities and social media stars to promote Biden on Instagram and TikTok.
"When Mr. Biden took a fund-raising swing through Southern California in December, the campaign carved out time to meet with influencers to pitch them on posting pro-Biden content," reads the media's pages. He highlighted that there are also plans to carry out a fundraiser with the former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
However, "The biggest and most influential endorsement target is Ms. Swift, 34, the pop sensation and N.F.L. enthusiast, who can move millions of supporters with an Instagram post or a mid-concert aside," the NYT reported, highlighting that Taylor Swift already supported Biden in 2020 and, last year, an Instagram post of his generated about 35,000 new voter registrations.
According to the NYT, Swift's support for Biden could generate millions of dollars for campaign expenses, and according to a recent survey by Redfield & Wilton for Newsweek, 18% of Americans said they are "very likely" to vote for the candidate the singer supports in the 2024 general elections.
Biden's advisors consider that Swift's level of popularity in a close electoral race could make a difference in the moment of truth. This is at a time when Trump is the favorite in the swing states because Biden is failing to encourage Black, Latino, young, and suburban voters, according to most national polls.
Therefore, in addition to presenting Trump as an alleged danger to democracy and civil rights, like promoting a campaign of fear about the January 6 events and abortion, Biden's advisers want to gain support from Swift, which could attract young voters or independents disaffected by Trump.
Several high-profile Democrats, in fact, have already publicly asked Taylor Swift to support Biden.
"Taylor Swift stands tall and unique," said California Governor Gavin Newsom. "What she was able to accomplish just in getting young people activated to consider that they have a voice and that they should have a choice in the next election, I think, is profoundly powerful."
Conservatives attack Taylor Swift
The NYT's revelation that Biden is behind Taylor Swift's support to impact the general election did not go very well in the conservative world.
"Thinking about when Taylor Swift called out the Soros family in 2019 for buying the rights to her music and then how she came out a super liberal in 2020," conservative commentator Jack Posobiec wrote on X (Twitter).
Posobiec's post was reposted by Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate who has now made his support for Trump official: "I wonder who's going to win the Super Bowl next month. And I wonder if there's a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially culturally propped-up couple this fall. Just some wild speculation over here, let's see how it ages over the next 8 months."
I wonder who’s going to win the Super Bowl next month. And I wonder if there’s a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially culturally propped-up couple this fall. Just some wild speculation over here, let’s see how it ages over the next 8 months.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 29, 2024
Some media, such as the New York Post, reported that Ramaswamy's post was a suggestion that the Super Bowl will be manipulated so that the Chiefs, the team in which Swift's boyfriend plays, win the championship, and in this way, the singer announces her support for Biden. The former candidate mocked these accusations.
Here’s what I said, funny how MSM is losing its mind over it. 😂 https://t.co/PQ0eFFVhFV
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 29, 2024
"No endorsement can save Joe Biden from the fact that he is the worst, most corrupt President in history. Not even Taylor Swift's," said Karoline Leavitt, from Trump's press team.
No endorsement can save Joe Biden from the fact that he is the worst, most corrupt President in history.
Not even Taylor Swift's. pic.twitter.com/aEfkOB7PRV
— Karoline Leavitt (@kleavittnh) January 29, 2024
