Earlier in her career, singer and songwriter Taylor Swift took a neutral stance on politics which garnered criticism from her detractors and some of her fans.
But by 2018 the young woman had enough of the political climate in the United States.
For the first time in her career, Swift endorsed candidates for office during the midterm elections. For the 2020 election, Swift is making her opinion known early.
On Friday, May 29—with 157 days until the election—Swift took to Twitter to post:
"After stoking the fires of White supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? 'When the looting starts the shooting starts'???"
"We will vote you out in November [President Trump]."
After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? 'When the looting starts the shooting starts'??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 29, 2020
People applauded Swift's response to the President's tweet threatening the protestors in Minneapolis.
The response included more than a few famous faces.
Taylor Swift going hard at white supremacists and Kanye West is buddies with them. Go figure.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 29, 2020
Taylor Swift for president. I said what I said. pic.twitter.com/8kayWaUxkX
— rafia |BLM (@repromantics) May 29, 2020
Thank you for stepping forward on this. Your voice, as always, carries.
— Ken Olin (@kenolin1) May 29, 2020
Thank you Taylor Swift, he is loosing support and we will vote him out in November, and your voice can reach out to people, continue speaking out.
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) May 29, 2020
🚨 | A reliable source told us that after Taylor Swift's recent tweets, Trump is considering to retire and deactivate his twitter pic.twitter.com/04SrbKCvbb
— zach (@blindingrep) May 29, 2020
Had you told me a decade ago that in 2020 Taylor Swift would be accusing Donald Trump on Twitter of stoking white supremacy while Kanye West was somewhere, possibly in a MAGA hat, being completely silent on the issue, I would have said: "God bless you, but a prophet you are not!"
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) May 29, 2020
Thank you for using your voice for good.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 29, 2020
Hey, 2009, this is 2020 calling.
Just wanted to let you know that one of these people in this picture will be boldly calling for justice, and one of these people will be shamelessly shilling for a vile racist.
I'll let you have all the fun and figure out which is which. pic.twitter.com/EictJcYWCU
— Kevin Roberts (@ripkevinroberts) May 29, 2020
Hell yes. Git his ass, Taylor Swift!
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) May 29, 2020
Honestly woke swift is one of the few bright spots of 2020
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) May 29, 2020
Taylor Swift one of the most powerful women in the music industry telling the truth nothing new in Taylor#trumpisoverparty #IStandWithTaylor
🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍 pic.twitter.com/pLIOy7sLHL pic.twitter.com/jwdLkHCTTm
— Nett Ruiiz (@NettRuiiz) May 29, 2020
GET HIM TAYLOR!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) May 29, 2020
👆💯🙌 pic.twitter.com/7POcAtkrRg
— Trinity (@TrinityResists) May 29, 2020
Within hours, the post broke the record for Swift's most liked tweet.
This is now Taylor Swift's most-liked tweet ever, surpassing 1 MILLION likes in mere hours. Happy she's using her platform to call out racists, to denounce and to encourage her massive following to vote in November. pic.twitter.com/XLe01FXIRV
— Brian A. Hernandez (@BAHjournalist) May 29, 2020
Her post clearly resonated.
Hopefully in November people will remember the passion her message evoked—whether they agreed or were angered by it—and vote.