If he wasn’t so jealous, maybe he might even enjoy Taylor Swift’s music. So many of her songs seem like they were written specifically for him: “Don’t Blame Me,” “You Need to Calm Down,” “Is It Over Now?” Donald Trump and Jimmy Kimmel have never been known to be best friends, but their relationship has become more strained since Trump asserted that he is more popular than Taylor Swift.
Trump’s claim that he deserved Time magazine’s Person of the Year award over Swift has given Kimmel plenty of material for his monologues. Trump believes he should have won the 2023 award, feeling he is more well-liked than Swift. Kimmel couldn’t resist mocking him, saying, “If Taylor Swift told her fans to storm the Capitol on January 6, they would have succeeded. They would be running the country right now.”
Trump’s jealousy of Swift has only intensified with reports that Biden’s advisers are seeking to enlist Swift’s support for his 2024 presidential campaign, leveraging her massive fan base. This news has reportedly agitated Trump, leading him to spread conspiracies—a classic Trump move. One bizarre theory suggests that Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, are part of a plot to rig the NFL playoffs to reelect Biden. This theory, shared by some of Trump’s supporters, claims Swift’s Super Bowl appearance could sway votes for Biden.
Trump’s frustrations are evident, especially since Swift hasn’t officially endorsed any candidate for 2024, though she did support Biden in 2020. The New York Times reports that Biden’s team sees Swift’s potential endorsement as a significant boost. Trump, feeling threatened, has asserted in private conversations that celebrity endorsements won’t help Biden, claiming his fan base is more involved than Swift’s.
Kimmel continues to lampoon Trump’s claims, emphasizing the absurdity of the idea that Swift and the NFL are conspiring to influence the election. Kimmel’s jabs underscore the humor in Trump’s jealousy and the implausibility of his conspiracies. Trump’s insistence that he is more popular than Swift has only highlighted his insecurity and the surreal nature of his grievances.
Despite Trump’s claims, polling data suggests Swift is indeed more popular. A November NBC News poll showed Swift’s favorability rating at +24, significantly higher than both Biden and Trump, who had negative ratings. This popularity could translate into political influence, with Swift’s endorsement potentially mobilizing young voters for Biden.
In summary, Trump’s jealousy of Taylor Swift’s success and influence has led to a series of bizarre claims and conspiracies. Jimmy Kimmel’s relentless mockery of Trump’s assertions highlights the comedic aspect of the situation, while polling data suggests Swift’s endorsement could indeed impact the 2024 election. Whether Swift’s fans will sway the election remains to be seen, but Trump’s envy and Kimmel’s humor provide an entertaining backdrop to the unfolding political drama.
