Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), the GOP nominee for vice president, downplayed the importance of Taylor Swift endorsing Vice President Harris in November’s election, calling the superstar a “disconnected” celebrity.
“Well look, we admire Taylor Swift’s music, but I don’t think most Americans, whether they like our music or fans of hers or not, are going to be influenced by a billionaire celebrity who I think is fundamentally disconnected from the interests and the problems of most Americans,” Vance told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum on Wednesday.
“Look, when grocery prices go up by 20 percent, it hurts most Americans. It doesn’t hurt Taylor Swift,” he continued. “When housing prices become unaffordable, it doesn’t affect Taylor Swift or any other billionaire. It does affect most middle class Americans all over our country.”
Vance said the Trump campaign’s pitch to women voters who might be fans of Swift would focus on policies to lower the cost of goods and crack down on crime and the southern border.
In a post to her 283 million followers on Instagram, Swift announced Tuesday night that she will be voting for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who lauded the support.
She said she would be voting for Harris “because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”
Swift signed her message, “Childless Cat Lady,” a jab at Vance’s past comments attacking Harris and other prominent Democrats.
Former President Trump earlier Wednesday similarly shook off Swift’s endorsement, calling it unsurprising given her past political endorsements.
“She seems to always endorse a Democrat, and she’ll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace,” Trump said.