Donald Trump has said he hates Taylor Swift – just days after the pop mega-star endorsed his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.
In an all-caps posting on his Truth Social media account, Mr Trump wrote: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”
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Following last week’s Trump-Harris debate, Swift informed her 284 million Instagram followers that she planned to vote for Ms Harris, currently the US vice president.
She said it was “because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them”.
Mr Trump initially dismissed Swift’s endorsement of his rival for the presidency by simply saying he was “not a Taylor fan“.
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But since then, with public opinion polls showing Ms Harris gaining significant ground on Mr Trump in what is expected to be a close 5 November presidential election, the former president has ratcheted up his rhetoric against one of the most successful recording artists in history.
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Swift’s post backing Ms Harris has drawn over nine million “likes”, fuelling speculation it could boost the Democrat’s chances of winning the presidential election.
However, others argue celebrity endorsements do not make a big difference in US elections, with much of Swift’s fanbase likely to have voted Democrat anyway.
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After Mr Trump’s online outburst, the Harris campaign sought to tease him with a pun-heavy press release referencing Swift’s songs.
“Mr. Not-at-all Fine has spent this week working through his feelings, whining about his Champagne Problems, and spending exactly none of his time addressing the issues facing the American people,” the statement says.
It adds: “His rambling, yelling and constant conspiracy theories have many asking if The Man is ‘too emotional’ to be president.
“Call it What You Want, but it’s Nothing New for the Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.”
Referencing his presidential debate performance earlier this week, it goes on to say the Trump campaign can’t “Shake it Off as the Bad Blood between Trump, his running mate, and his own party boils”.
