Trump perceives Swift as appearing appealing from the outside, yet distasteful on the inside.
Trump has nothing but praise for Taylor Swift's looks, frequently calling her "exceptionally beautiful" and "wonderful" in interviews. However, he holds a different opinion on her political views.
During an interview with "Variety" editor Ramin Setoodeh for his book "Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass," Trump talked not only about his time on the US show but also about the singer. When asked about his thoughts on Swift, he said: "She has great star qualities. She really has them." He then emphasized her beauty, saying: "I find her wonderful - very beautiful! I find her very beautiful. (...) I find her even more beautiful - exceptionally beautiful!" But when it comes to her music, Trump isn't as convinced, confessing he's not familiar with her work but has heard she's talented.
As for Swift's political stance, Trump isn't impressed. He's heard that she's liberal and likely doesn't like him. "Is she really liberal or is that just an act? Is that not just played?" Trump asked in the interview, making assumptions about the entire country music genre. When his interlocutor pointed out that Swift is no longer a pure country artist, he disregarded the comment and instead questioned how a country superstar like Garth Brooks could be liberal: "Explain that! How is that possible?"
There's no clear answer as to whether Swift dislikes Trump. In 2016, she was seen as a supporter of the Republicans, but in 2018, she backed Democratic candidates Phil Bredesen for the Senate and Jim Cooper for the House of Representatives in Tennessee. In her Netflix documentary "Miss Americana," Swift expressed why she chose to join politics, telling viewers she wanted to stand "on the right side of history." During the 2020 elections, she supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, Swift called out Trump on Twitter, stating: "After your whole presidency stoking the fires of white supremacy and divisiveness, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? (...) We will vote you out in November." In another tweet, she criticized Trump's statement, "When the looting starts the shooting starts," which could be translated as: "When the looting starts, the shooting starts."
In a 2021 interview with "Vanity Fair," Swift revealed how Trump's presidency influenced her political awakening: "As a country musician, I was always told it's better to stay out of politics. Trump's presidency forced me to get involved and educate myself."
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Despite Trump's admiration for Taylor Swift's physical appearance, he expresses disdain for her political views, questioning her apparent liberalism in their interview. Conversely, Taylor Swift openly criticizes Trump's stance on social issues, particularly his comments regarding the Black Lives Matter movement.
