This is an opinion piece.
Out of the many millions of Taylor Swift fans, the idea that some of them might support former President Donald Trump or be conservative is apparently so shocking to some in the elite news media that they simply can’t wrap their minds around the concept.
They’re so shocked that they’ve collectively decided, “They must all be fake!” Or “maybe there’s only 1!”
In case you missed it, Trump shared a collage of what appear to be some AI-generated photos mixed with 2 very real photos of a Wisconsin college student named Jenna Piwowarczyk, who is BOTH a fan of Taylor Swift and Trump. Interestingly, many national media outlets focused on the AI photos while ignoring or downplaying the real ones. Frankly, I wish Trump hadn’t mixed the two together, but the media’s spin is also very revealing.
I should know that they’re real. I took the two real photos that Trump shared. I first posted one of them on Wisconsin Right Now’s X page on June 18. It took until now for random X pages with large followings to amplify them (no idea why), and I shared a second one from my cell phone’s camera roll after they did when a variety of trolls falsely said they were fake. Here’s the main photo in my camera roll!
I’m, frankly, infuriated at the national and prominent media outlets that falsely implied that all of the photos Trump shared were AI, including mine, and I have requested corrections/clarifications from multiple of them. It’s remarkably difficult to find the correction policies and emails of national news outlet reporters! Other news outlets, especially the Wisconsin-based ones, correctly stated that some of the photos were real. Some news outlets reached out to Jenna or quoted her video. Good for them! They were fair.
But many did not.
The media also claimed that Trump falsely stated he was endorsed by Swift when he wrote “I accept,” but I think you could also read his post as saying that he accepted the support from Swift FANS. He did share an obviously satirical AI photo of Swift in an Uncle Sam suit saying, “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.” Does anyone really believe that Taylor Swift dressed up as Uncle Sam? C’mon. As always, Trump’s theatrical hyperbole flies over the media’s heads.
President #Trump just shared the two photos of Jenna Piwowarczyk that I took in #Racine!!!!!! #SwiftiesForTrump -Jessica pic.twitter.com/YTI5og7biS
— Wisconsin Right Now (@wisconsin_now) August 19, 2024
To be clear, Swift hasn’t endorsed anyone in the race. If she does, I know that some of her diehard fans would be very disappointed.
In their rush to ding Trump for sharing some AI photos, some major news outlets ignored or downplayed the fact that some of the pictures were real. In so doing, some news outlets chose a simplistic, biased narrative over a more complex and interesting story.
I think the more complex and interesting story is that, within the Taylor Swift universe, just like in the country as a whole, there are young conservatives who like Swift AND Trump. (Hey, I like Bruce Springsteen’s music. I just can’t stand his politics. This isn’t that new.)
The voices of young conservatives don’t often get into the coastal news media and are especially ignored in the pop culture universe. It’s worth asking why.
People who live in Wisconsin, like I do, and who grew up in rural or conservative areas, like I did, are not at all surprised that a young person might like Trump and Swift, especially in today’s economy. Young people, many of whom lived through COVID lockdowns that robbed them of a normal high school experience, are worried about getting their first job, their first house, and even paying for groceries.
Jenna articulates best why she supports both of them.
“Taylor and Trump share their work ethic and accomplishment of the American Dream. Both worked incredibly hard to get to where they are today and demonstrate how the American free market and pursuit of happiness can lead to great success,” Jenna says.
“A Trump presidency is the best option for women and young people in 2024. His tough-on-crime policies keep women safe and criminals off the streets. College students like me are worried about getting jobs, paying for groceries, and getting our first house. I support Trump for many reasons, but first on the list is because of his economy,” she added.
Her full statement is here.
Media – here is a statement from Jenna Piwowarczyk, 19, the REAL Concordia college student from #Wisconsin whose picture #Trump shared twice in the #SwiftiesForTrump post you're all writing about. Feel free to run the statement and the attached photos. So many reporters have… pic.twitter.com/GECVN4Jbhx
— Wisconsin Right Now (@wisconsin_now) August 19, 2024
Other news outlets are acting like Jenna is the only Swiftie for Trump in the entire world. I doubt it would take them long to find other ones. If they bothered to look. I have a large social media following, including many conservatives, so I asked my Facebook followers if any of them are Swifties for Trump. It took literally 2 minutes to find some more. How come no one else could?
“I am! I was row 11 for Taylor Swift & have gone to all trump rallies in WI!” wrote one woman, Kelly Comp. Even a middle-aged male teacher I know revealed that he likes both Swift AND Trump. Another woman messaged me to reveal that her daughter is a Swiftie for Trump too. I asked Comp for more details.
“My name is Kelly Comp & I’m 30 years old! I live in Kenosha County, where I am employed as a Probation & Parole Agent. I have been a Swiftie since her original album in 2006!” she responded. “In recent years, Taylor Swift has been vocal about her political views, and while views ours do not always align, it doesn’t make me any less obsessed with her. Swifties for Trump truly is a movement that I’m excited to be a part of! We need Trump back in office and Taylor Swift on our radios and in our hearts! 🫶🏽💜✨” Comp’s LinkedIn cover picture is a photo of Swift. Her Facebook page declares, “Taylor Swift everything & Police Wife 💙” She has posted positively about Trump AND Swift on her page in the past.
Hannah Willmering, 24, a pre-nursing student at Waukesha County Technical College, is a “Swiftie for Trump” too.
“I have always been a huge Taylor Swift, but I am a Republican. You shouldn’t have to feel ashamed being a Taylor Swift fan even though she may not be one and you are another way,” she told WRN. “I have always been a conservative but in High School and honestly with friends sometimes I have never felt comfortable to be able to express my beliefs.”
Jenna Piwowarczyk, a Concordia College student from Wisconsin who attended Liberty University last year, wore the “Swifties for Trump” T-shirt in June to the Trump rally in Racine. It’s homemade. She fashioned it out of decals she bought at Walmart and affixed them to a white T-shirt.
When she showed up at the Trump rally wearing it, which I was at for Wisconsin Right Now, I thought it was really interesting so I took a bunch of photos and posted one on X. She got to meet Trump at the event, and he commented that her shirt was “great.”
Jenna is the daughter of Wisconsin Right Now’s co-founder. In the almost five years I have known her, she has always been conservative, and she has always been a Swiftie. She started a Young America’s Foundation chapter in her high school. Anyone who knows her knows that she has a political mind wiser than her years. She has also attended six Taylor Swift concerts and was once featured on local TV dressed up like Swift.
Since her photo went viral, others have shared positive support, including other conservatives who like Swift. But she has also been mercilessly trolled by some liberals, who even wished her physical harm or accused her of being a bot. Thanks, media.
Jenna explained her Swift support in a column she wrote for WRN on the topic in 2023. I remember when Jenna submitted the column, she was motivated by the disdain some conservatives were sharing about Swift on social media at the time. She wanted the conservative tent to broaden and embrace Swifties. She felt that the negative comments were dominating the conversation.
I suggest you read her column here, East Coast Media. You might learn a thing or two about young people’s opinions out here in the part of the country you don’t seem to really understand.
