Donald Trump’s campaign is hitting more speed bumps, and two unexpected characters, Taylor Swift and Laura Loomer, are making things worse.
Trump’s erratic reactions and controversial associations have drawn unwanted attention. Taylor’s recent endorsement of Kamala Harris, paired with Laura’s racist remarks, are potentially driving voters away from the former president.
He went off on Taylor today, stating that:
“I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”
Taylor’s post, which praised Kamala for being a “steady-handed, gifted leader,” quickly spread across social media.
She directly called out the chaotic energy Trump has brought to the country while labeling herself as a “childless cat lady” in a jab at his VP nominee JD Vance who has consistently made several bigoted remarks against childless women.
Trump’s obsession with Taylor
Taylor’s endorsement had an immediate real-world impact. Within a day, her post reportedly drove over 300,000 visitors to Vote.gov, a huge boost in voter interest.
The Kamala campaign quickly capitalized on Trump’s outburst with a music-themed response that slammed his leadership. A campaign spokesperson said:
“The American people want to be out of the woods of the chaos and division of the Trump era and begin again by electing Vice President Kamala.”
But, according to a poll by ABC News/Ipsos, only 6% of voters said Taylor’s endorsement made them more likely to support Kamala. 13% said it made them less likely to vote for her, while a shocking 81% said it didn’t matter at all.
Donald Trump and J. D. Vance
Those who responded negatively? Overwhelmingly Trump supporters. Just a few weeks ago, Trump actually had nice things to say about Taylor, taking credit for the Music Modernization Act, a piece of legislation that benefits artists like her.
He even threw in a compliment for her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, while simultaneously pointing out that Travis might not be too fond of him since he is a liberal.
He has also shared an AI-generated video of Taylor and her fans seemingly supporting him. Clearly, he thought she would show up for him, perhaps due to her friendship with one of his staunchest supporters, Brittany Mahomes.
Suffice it to say she disappointed the man.
“I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered!”
– Taylor Swift
Laura’s racism is hurting Trump in key states
Then there’s Laura Loomer. While Taylor’s involvement is more about driving turnout, Laura is doing something entirely different. Alienating voters.
The conspiracy theorist’s offensive comments about Kamala have raised alarms within Trump’s own camp.
Laura made a post saying that the White House would “smell like curry” if Kamala wins. That kind of language in 2024 is a liability.
Some allies are genuinely worried that the racist rhetoric could cost him votes in battleground states like Georgia and North Carolina.
Laura Loomer
These states have large Indian-American and Hindu populations, and several of Trump’s confidants have warned him about Laura’s potential to drive them away.
One insider reportedly told Trump, “If you don’t fix this, it will be a problem.” He was later warned directly by people from both Georgia and North Carolina.
The Georgia Chapter of the American Hindu Coalition also spoke out, making it clear that Laura’s comments don’t align with the values of the MAGA movement.
The statement called her remarks “unacceptable” and warned that they could lead to division. Trump took this seriously enough to share part of it on his Truth Social. But the damage may already be done.
Trump’s crypto gamble
As if Taylor and Laura weren’t enough, Trump’s newfound love for crypto adds another wrinkle to his already complex campaign.
Apparently, he plans to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet” if he wins.
While this might sound appealing to the crypto-enthusiasts backing him, it also raises questions about his personal financial interests.
Trump’s latest business venture, World Liberty Financial, involves his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, as well as his daughter-in-law Lara. This venture is being heavily promoted on the same platforms he uses for his campaign.
The concern here is that the former president’s political promises and his personal financial gains are becoming more and more intertwined.
A spokesperson from the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington called Trump’s crypto love troubling, mainly because it seems more personal than anything else.
His opinion on Bitcoin has flip-flopped over the years. Back in 2019, he tweeted about how crypto assets enable illegal activity.
But now, he’s fully embraced it, promising to create a Bitcoin “strategic reserve,” though industry leaders like Arthur Hayes and Vitalik Buterin think this is highly unlikely to happen.
It’s no surprise that Trump’s business ventures keep overlapping with his political career.
The White House
Throughout his time in the White House, the man repeatedly used his platform to promote his hotels, golf courses, and now, his crypto venture.
But what’s concerning is how many of the man’s businesses tend to blow up in value, despite their questionable success.
For instance, his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group, is valued at about $3 billion, even though its quarterly revenue is less than $1 million.
That’s some serious loyalty from his supporters, who are willing to invest in his companies no matter the outcome.
The exact stake Trump and his family hold in World Liberty Financial is unclear.
Polls show Kamala won the debate, but Trump remains unmoved
A recent poll shows that Americans favor Kamala over Trump after the second presidential debate, with 58% saying the VP won.
That’s a big change from the Biden-Trump debate in June, which the latter was seen as winning by a wide margin.
But, despite this win, Kamala and Trump are still neck-and-neck when it comes to voter trust and overall vote preferences.
Neither candidate is moving the needle much, and it’s not clear how this will play out on election day.
Kamala Harris
Still, some voters remain undecided. But when it comes to Trump, more than twice as many voters say they now view him less favorably after the debate than those who see him in a better light.
If Trump keeps alienating key groups with his racist attacks (like saying Haitians eat people’s cats and dogs) and controversial associations, he may see those numbers drop further.
Trump’s second assassination attempt
Meanwhile, just now, gunshots were reportedly fired at one of his golf clubs in Florida while he was on the course. Fortunately, Trump is safe, according to his campaign.
But, the incident has triggered new concerns for his safety as he continues to hold rallies and public appearances. Kamala quickly reacted to the news, saying:
“I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”
The FBI has officially ruled this as an assassination attempt, but this isn’t Trump’s first rodeo. On July 13, he was shot during an attempted assassination at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The assailant, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired eight rounds from an AR-15-style rifle from a nearby rooftop, striking the former president in the upper right ear and injuring others in the crowd.
Interestingly enough, some folks genuinely believe the assassination was staged. But it makes little sense when you consider the race of the shooter, and also the fact that he is a registered Republican.
If Trump wanted to stage an assassination attempt, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to use a person of color. Everyone should know that.