The aaye rests aaye

which means “better late than never.” For a long time, many expected Taylor Swift to support the Democrats. It was predicted even before Kamala Harris became the presidential nominee. Some in the MAGA crowd believed that the Kansas City Chiefs would beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024, and that Taylor Swift would not only get engaged to Chiefs player Travis Kelce, but also announce her support for Biden-Harris.
The Chiefs won in overtime, but there was no showdown or endorsement of Biden. Much has changed since then, with Biden dropping out 75 days earlier and Harris becoming the Democratic nominee. Swift’s endorsement of Harris did not come quickly.
Previous speculation suggested Swift had “modestly” supported Harris in an Instagram post, but it turned out to be just a silhouette of her backup dancer. There were also rumors that she would perform at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), but that never happened either.

In the midst of all this, a group emerged calling itself “Swifties for Trump,” though most of their posts appeared to be AI-generated. Trump even shared an AI-generated image of Taylor Swift supposedly supporting him, adding, “I accept.” It wasn’t quite the deepfake the mainstream media was calling it, but it was, as Tim Walz called it, “weird.” At the same time, another group, “Swifties4Kamala,” began hosting events in support of Harris.
At one such event, legendary singer Carole King performed a short version of “Shake It Off,” her favorite Swift song, and shared tips on door-to-door campaigning, drawing on her long history of political activism. Senator Elizabeth Warren praised the participants, saying, “You are resilient and you know how to stand up to bullies. That’s what the Harris campaign is all about: standing up to bullies like Donald Trump.” Other speakers included Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont and North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Anderson Clayton.
Swift’s long-awaited endorsement finally came the night after a debate, in a message that could only be seen as a sharp rebuke to Trump and MAGA supporters.

After watching the debate, Swift said that a fake AI version of her endorsement of Donald Trump prompted her to speak out, writing, “It made me realize that I need to be very transparent about my real plans for this election as a voter. The easiest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
She continued, “I’ve done my research and I’ve made my choice. It’s totally up to you to do your research and make the choice. I also want to say, especially to early voters, remember that you have to be registered to vote! I also find it much easier to vote early. I’ll link in my story where you can register and where you can find the dates and information for early voting.”

She concluded by stating, “I will be voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election. I am voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes that I believe need a warrior to defend. I think she is a determined, talented leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country when we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so encouraged and impressed by her choice of running mate @timwalz, who has been advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”
The sharpest dig came when she called herself the “Childless Cat Lady,” a clear response to JD Vancewho criticized single, childless women, a stance MAGA further emphasizes.

Swift rebuke for Vance

J.D. Vance learned the hard way that “hell hath no fury like a Swiftie scorned” when his previous comments about “childless cat ladies” resurfaced after Biden withdrew and Harris endorsed him. In July 2021, Vance appeared on Fox News to defend a speech he had given at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute in which he criticized prominent Democratic leaders for being part of what he called the “childless left” and argued that they had “no physical commitment to the future of this country.”
Vance claimed: “Our country is essentially run by Democrats and corporate oligarchs, many of whom are childless cat ladies. They’re unhappy with their own lives and choices, and they want the rest of the country to be miserable too. Look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC — the entire future of the Democrats is in the hands of people who have no direct stake in it. How is it logical that we have entrusted the country to people who have no direct stake in it?”
He then suggested that a “healthy ruling class” should prioritize electing people with children, who he argued had a greater personal stake in the future of the country.
Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, were quick to respond to Vance’s comments. One Twitter user noted, “Taylor Swift is a self-made billionaire who donated to every city on her tour. JD Vance started a charity that has not helped a single drug addict.” Another confidently added, “I can’t f***** wait for the fallout from JD’s ‘cat lady’ comments. Oh it’s coming.” A third noted, “Taylor Swift would destroy JD Vance on the debate floor.”

The story of Benjamin Knoop

Taylor first met Benjamin on the set of the “ME!” music video and took an instant liking to him. The cat’s owner described Benjamin as a “purr box” due to his constant purring, and after bonding with him, Taylor asked if she could adopt him. The owner confirmed that Benjamin was available, and Taylor knew she wanted to take him home. Brendon Urie was equally enamored with Benjamin, and during filming, Taylor expressed how much she loved the kitten, often reminiscing about how the video marked the first moment they met.

Cat and Dog Elections

A rumor spread by the MAGA crowd concerns claims that Haitian immigrants eat pets. This false narrative, amplified by memes generated by industrial AI, appears to originate from the case of a woman who was arrested for allegedly killing and eating a cat. The controversy began after right-wing social media users latched onto the arrest of 27-year-old Allexis Telia Ferrell, who was charged with animal cruelty. Charges include injuring an animal, violating the protection of companion animals, and disorderly conduct. The lie was also repeated by Trump during the debate.
Ferrell reportedly killed a cat on August 16 by stomping on its head and then eating it in front of multiple witnesses, Fox News reported. The incident occurred in Canton, Ohio, where police confirmed her arrest. Neighbors in a residential area on 13th Street SE were shocked by the act.
Despite Ferrell having lived in the US for years, some conservative social media accounts were quick to link the incident to immigration, specifically from Haiti. One post claimed, “When you let a third world country into your country, you become a third world country. Close the border and save our cats.” Another read, “If you like ducks or cats, Trump is your only choice in November. Otherwise they’ll be dinner for Kamala’s illegal Haitians.”
However, local law enforcement denied the claims. The Springfield Police Division said Monday that they had not received any reports of stolen or eaten pets, and stressed that the social media posts did not reflect ongoing concerns. “This is not something that is on our radar at this time,” police said in response to the rumors circulating online.