Donald Trump has stirred controversy once again, this time by posting AI-generated images on Truth Social that suggested Taylor Swift had endorsed him for the 2024 election. His post drew significant backlash and mockery, and raised questions about possible legal action from the Grammy-winning singer.
Taylor Swift has yet to endorse any candidate this election cycle, though she supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020. She has also been vocal about her disdain for Trump and his party.
In her 2020 documentary Miss Americana, she expressed her frustrations about politics and her desire to speak out, particularly against Republican Marsha Blackburn, who was running for Senate in her home state of Tennessee.
During the national demonstrations following George Floyd’s murder, she tweeted, “After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? ‘When the looting starts the shooting starts’??? We will vote you out in November.”
Trump’s post included several AI-generated images, including one depicting Swift as Uncle Sam with the message, “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump,” and another featuring fake “Swifties for Trump” T-shirts. He also shared a headline marked as “satire” about Swifties turning to Trump after a foiled terrorist attack at her Vienna concerts.
Swift has previously taken legal action to protect her privacy and image. Earlier this year, her team issued a cease and desist to Jack Sweeney for publicizing details about her private jet travel and addressed a stalking incident at her New York City home.
Additionally, a bipartisan bill known as the NO FAKES Act, which is awaiting congressional approval, aims to criminalize the spread of nonconsensual, pornographic AI-generated images.
While public figures face a higher burden of proof in defamation and libel cases, legal experts suggest that Trump’s post could potentially violate Swift’s right of publicity.
