74 Million People Voted For Trump— 283 Million People Follow Taylor Swift On Instagram

Trump Keeps Digging The Hole Deeper

This morning, just before 8, Trump tweeted that he hates Taylor Swift. Nothing else, just “I hate Taylor Swift!” All caps, indicating how emotionally charged the tweet was for him— not out of character for his rapidly deteriorating public persona. We’ve all watched him course the culture by the way he uses social media to savage high-profile individuals, especially those who are outspoken in their criticism of him or who represent values and viewpoints that conflict with his. Swift, who has been successfully urging her supporters to register to vote, is an obvious target for his ire and wrath.

In a statement slamming Trump’s hatred today, Kamala’s campaign statement referenced 28 Taylor Swift songs and albums: “Safe & Sound,” “Down Bad,” “Mr. Perfectly Fine” (changed to “Mr. Not-at-All Fine),” “Champagne Problems,” “The Man,” “Call It What You Want,” “Nothing New,” “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” “Shake It Off,” “Bad Blood,” “Better Than Revenge,” “Sad, Beautiful, Tragic,” “But Daddy, I Love Him” (via the “Oh my God, you should have seen the American people’s faces” line), “I Forgot That You Existed,” “Out of the Woods,” “Blank Space,” “Begin Again,” “Long Live,” “All Too Well,” “The Last Time,” “End Game,” “Breathe,” “The Story of Us,” “Back to December,” “Enchanted,” “Fearless,” “1989” and “We Are Never Getting Back Together” (invoked via the statement’s “like ever” capper).

I left the country right after Nixon was elected but I recall that he had a tense relationship with pop culture, particularly with the countercultural figures of the 1960s and 70s, a period of immense cultural and political upheaval. Many pop stars became symbols of resistance to the establishment, with Nixon representing that establishment. I was in Afghanistan when— talk about weird— Nixon famously met with Elvis at the tail end of 1970. The photo of the encounter— the king in a purple velvet cape and matching pants— is the most requested item from the National archives, more do than the Constitution.

Elvis, concerned about the influence of drugs and communism in the music industry, wrote Nixon a letter on a red-eye flight from L.A. a few days earlier. The 6-page letter on American Airlines stationary says “I have done an in-depth study of drug abuse and Communist brainwashing techniques and I am right in the middle of the whole thing where I can and will do the most good,” offering his services as a “Federal Agent at Large.” 

The two met in the White House in what became one of the most bizarre and iconic moments of the Nixon presidency. Elvis even gave Nixon a gift: a Colt .45 pistol (which the Secret Service promptly confiscated). Nixon, in turn, gave Presley a badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, which was what Elvis wanted. Despite this friendly encounter, the meeting reflected Nixon's more conservative desire to co-opt figures like Elvis for his anti-drug and anti-counterculture campaigns, while many pop stars were seen as representing the very opposite values.

More emblematic of Nixon’s relationship with pop culture was his adversarial relationship with John Lennon, who he tried— unsuccessfully— getting deported because of anti-war songs like “Give Peace a Chance” and “Imagine.” Nixon tried presenting himself as the embodiment of the “silent majority”that resisted the countercultural movements of the 1960s. Pop culture icons like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones were seen as representing the political and social forces Nixon was fighting against: the anti-war movement, the civil rights movement, and the broader rejection of traditional values. The 1971 War on Drugs initiative was, in part, a response to the drug culture associated with rock stars and the youth movement. This war on drugs, in turn, became a cultural and political wedge issue for Nixon, positioning him against the freewheeling lifestyle of many pop stars. His regime was notoriously paranoid about the influence of pop culture with Spiro Agnew, frequently attacking the media and entertainers, accusing them of promoting permissiveness, violence and un-American values, railing against TV shows and rock music, labeling them as part of the degradation of American society. Their attacks on cultural figures added to Nixon’s reputation as deeply distrustful of dissent, which culminated in the Watergate scandal and his forced resignation and disgrace. Were Nixon to have tweeted back in his day— considering his stiff persona and awkward, rocky relationship with pop culture it would’ve been out of touch but seeking to avoid a direct confrontation, knowing how much cultural power these stars held. Something like this:

“Elton John and the Jackson 5 are fine musicians. America’s youth has diverse tastes.”

Let’s go back a few years. Abraham Lincoln was known for his measured and calm demeanor. If he had a Twitter account, he would likely embrace cultural figures as unifiers in a divided country during the Civil War, rather than start a feud and would’ve likely expressed admiration for Jenny Lind’s talent, something like:

“Jenny Lind’s voice brings peace to troubled times. A national treasure!”

Teddy Roosevelt, a man of action and charisma, might appreciate the grand, larger-than-life persona of Enrico Caruso, one of the first major stars of recorded music. Given Roosevelt’s love for adventure and showmanship, he’d probably enjoy the operatic drama of Caruso’s performances rather than oppose him. He might have posted something like:

“Caruso’s voice conquers the world like our great American spirit. Bravo!”

FDR was a master of radio and the public voice, and he might praise Bing Crosby’s ability to bring comfort to people during hard times, or Sinatra's rising influence. FDR would likely align with popular figures to maintain public morale during the Great Depression and World War II. Something like:

“Bing Crosby’s voice is a balm to a weary nation. Keep crooning, Bing!”

“Sinatra, an American original, inspiring hope and charm in tough times.”

Dwight Eisenhower, a war hero and a figure of stability, might be a bit skeptical of the rebelliousness of early rock 'n' roll, but he’d probably keep it neutral. While he might have respected innovation, his generation might view Elvis as a cultural shift that could be difficult to fully embrace and he would have probably have preferred Patti Page. But is he had to tweet something about Elvis…

“Elvis Presley brings something new to the world. Let’s see where it leads.”

LBJ also had fraught relationship with pop culture because of Vietnam and might have been more cautious about embracing the countercultural movements associated with The Beatles, but considering their popularity, he would likely not publicly oppose them. Politically savvy, he would avoid alienating such a massive, influential fan base, even if he privately had reservations about the cultural shift they represented. He might have tweeted:

“The Beatles bring joy to millions. A changing world, but music unites us.”

Reagan was a former actor and generally embraced popular culture. Known for his optimism, perhaps encouraged by Nancy, he would likely have praised tpop icons like Michael Jackson and Madonna as symbols of American ingenuity and entertainment power. His messages might be:

“Michael Jackson’s Thriller is electrifying! America leads in talent and creativity.”

“Madonna embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. A true American story!”

Bill Clinton, famously enamored of pop culture, would probably tweet something positive about pop sensations like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. (He once asked me to introduce him to Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell and asked me to bring Lou Reed to the White House to perform.) He’d likely admire these stars and use them to connect with a broad swath of the public.

“Whitney’s voice inspires the world. Grateful for such talent in our times.”

“Mariah Carey’s range mirrors the strength of our diverse nation. Keep hitting those notes!”