‘Trump’s presidency forced me to lean in’: Taylor Swift opens up about breaking her silence on politics
‘As a country musician, I was always told it’s better to stay out of [politics],’ said Swift
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Taylor Swift has discussed her decision to publicly support the Democrats ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.
The singer had previously been criticised in some quarters for not engaging in major political moments in the US such as the Black Lives Matter movement and the 2016 presidential election.
But in 2018 she broke her silence and endorsed Democratic candidates, urging fans to “get out and vote”.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Swift said: “As a country musician, I was always told it’s better to stay out of [politics]. The Trump presidency forced me to lean in and educate myself. I found myself talking about government and the presidency and policy with my boyfriend [actor Joe Alwyn], who supported me in speaking out.”
She added: “I started talking to my family and friends about politics and learning as much as I could about where I stand. I’m proud to have moved past fear and self-doubt, and to endorse and support leadership that moves us beyond this divisive, heartbreaking moment in time.”
Read more - Taylor Swift releases re-recorded ‘Taylor’s Version’ of hit 2008 single ‘Love Story’
Swift’s single “Only the Young” was written in 2018, shortly after Swift broke her long silence about politics. She had endorsed Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen in the Tennessee Senate race against Republican congresswoman Marsha Blackburn. Even though Swift’s comments led to a surge in voter registration, Blackburn emerged as the winner.
“Almost the entire process of creating that song, I was fighting back tears because I was so sad about the results of the midterm elections in my state and the losses faced by superb Democratic candidates in states like Georgia and Texas,” she said.
Read more - Taylor Swift review, Evermore: Full of haunting tales that transform speakers into campfires
“I didn’t want the defeat and hopelessness I felt for our country’s future to get the best of me. I didn’t want to weep. I wanted to have hope. Writing ‘Only the Young’ helped me push through that moment in my life and gave me the hope to keep fighting for what I believe is right.”
Last summer, Swift showed strong support for the BLM movement. After sharing a number of tweets in support of the movement, she tweeted: “Racial injustice has been ingrained deeply into local and state governments, and changes MUST be made there. In order for policies to change, we need to elect people who will fight against police brutality and racism of any kind.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments