Trump Says He Likes Taylor Swift’s ‘Music About 25 Percent Less Now’

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| October 8, 2018 @ 3:25 PM Last Updated: October 8, 2018 @ 3:30 PM
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President Trump on Monday responded to Taylor Swift’s recent endorsement of two Democrats running in her home state of Tennessee, saying he liked Swift’s music “about 25 percent less now.”

Less than 24 hours after Swift made a rare political statement to denounce Tennessee Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn, Trump told reporters that the U.S. representative is a “tremendous woman” and that Swift “doesn’t know anything about her.”

“Marsha Blackburn is doing a very good job now in Tennessee,” the president told reporters at the White House on Monday. “She’s leading now substantially, which she should. She’s a tremendous woman. I’m sure Taylor Swift doesn’t know anything about her. Let’s say I like Taylor’s music about 25 percent less now, OK?”

Also Read: Taylor Swift Takes First Public Political Stand, Supports Tennessee Democrats

In a lengthy Instagram message on Sunday, the country-pop star known for her longstanding practice of avoiding political stands said that events in her own life and globally encouraged her to speak out in support of Democratic candidates.

“I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG,” she wrote. “I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”

Swift said that although she would like to continue supporting female politicians, she cannot support the re-election of Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn. She said Blackburn’s voting record “appalls and terrifies” her.

“She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values,” Swift wrote.

Also Read: 'Fox & Friends' Suggests Taylor Swift Didn't Write That Pro-Democrat Post Alone

Instead, Swift said she will vote for Democrats Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for the House of Representatives.

“Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values,” she wrote. “For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway.”

Swift’s political opinions have frequently come into question, and though she has not encouraged them, white nationalists have embraced her. Last year, Broadly published an article titled “Can’t Shake It Off: How Taylor Swift Became a Nazi Idol.”

And a Complex story asked, “Why Do People Keep Connecting Taylor Swift’s New Song to the Alt-Right?”

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I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway. So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting! ??–?????????

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