As the election heats up, tensions are rising among Taylor Swift fans, with some supporters backing Trump facing backlash from those who see the pop star’s political leanings as incompatible with Republican support.
Jenna Piwowarczyk, a college student and prominent supporter of the “Swifties for Trump” movement, has been at the centre of the controversy. Piwowarczyk recently gained attention for wearing a Swifties for Trump T-shirt and was inundated with criticism after posting a TikTok about the movement.
“I received thousands of comments accusing me of being a traitor, saying Taylor would hate me,” she told The Post. “My picture was shared widely, and the movement began gaining traction about two weeks ago.”
Piwowarczyk, a political science major at Concordia University in Mequon, WI, was approached by the creator of the Swifties for Trump X account, who asked her to represent the group due to her professional constraints. The anonymous creator reported receiving criticism on the account, which now has 18,800 followers.
“Most criticisms are unoriginal, with many accusing us of being bots or suggesting that Taylor would disapprove of our political views,” the creator said. “Some even joke that we’re impersonating well-known right-wing figures.”
Alexis Winters, a 24-year-old from Whitestone, Queens, has observed similar hostility in Swiftie social media groups. “It’s chaotic,” Winters said. “Anti-Trump fans go on long rants and scrutinise old posts to criticise people for their political views.”
Ashley DiFonzo, a 27-year-old from Springfield, MO, has also faced judgment from liberal Swift fans. “I’ve been told that supporting Trump means I can’t be a Swiftie,” DiFonzo said. It’s absurd to judge someone’s fandom based on their political choices.
Melissa Dudley, a 49-year-old from Hinesville, GA, noted that her daughters have differing political views. “My Democratic daughter believes Taylor would be unhappy if she knew her fans supported Trump,” Dudley said. “She thinks Taylor’s strong political stance means her fans should align with Democratic values.”
Swift herself has not endorsed any presidential candidate this year. However, she was vocal in the 2020 election, criticising Trump on X and expressing her support for Biden on Instagram. DiFonzo expressed disappointment in Swift’s stance, suggesting it contributed to misinformation.
“I wasn’t surprised by her endorsement of Biden. Many celebrities live in a bubble, detached from everyday concerns like rent and groceries,” DiFonzo said.
Winters also mentioned that Swift’s 2020 political commentary made her less enthusiastic about the singer. “I’m still a fan, but I no longer idolise her as I used to,” Winters said. “It’s not just her political views—her perceived obligation to push those views onto her young fans.”
