Donald Trump asked whether Taylor Swift’s liberalism was “just an act,” then said, “She’s legitimately liberal.” The exchange took place in an interview with journalist Ramin Setoodeh for his book Apprentice in Wonderland. It records Trump’s characterization of Swift; it does not establish a complete account of her political beliefs.
What Trump said about Taylor Swift
In the interview, Trump said he did not know Swift’s music well, but described her as beautiful and talented. He then asked Setoodeh whether her liberalism was “just an act.” After Setoodeh affirmed that Swift was liberal, Trump replied, “She’s legitimately liberal.”
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Trump also said, “It surprises me that a country star can be successful being liberal.” Setoodeh noted that Swift had moved toward pop. These are Trump’s words in the exchange, not an independent assessment of Swift’s ideology. Variety published the extended audio and transcript, making it possible to read the remarks in their conversational context rather than rely only on a paraphrase.
Where the remarks came from
Setoodeh, Variety’s co-editor-in-chief, interviewed Trump for Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass. The book was reported as scheduled for publication by HarperCollins on June 18, 2024. The first news report on the book excerpt appeared in June, and Variety published the extended audio and transcript on June 28, 2024. Those are reporting and publication dates; the reviewed accounts do not give the interview’s exact date. Euronews reported on the book and its planned publication.
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What Swift’s public record establishes
Swift publicly endorsed Democratic candidates in Tennessee in 2018 and Joe Biden in 2020. She also criticized Trump in 2020, as Variety recounts in its June 14, 2024 report. Those are specific, documented political actions and statements. They support describing a public record that includes backing Democratic candidates; they do not, by themselves, provide a complete inventory of Swift’s beliefs or settle every dimension of her political identity.
Why “legitimately liberal” is Trump’s characterization
“Legitimately liberal” is not a measurable status established by the interview. Trump’s first question raised the possibility that Swift’s liberalism was an act; his follow-up accepted Setoodeh’s description and called it genuine. The transcript establishes what Trump said and the sequence in which he said it. It cannot independently verify a private motive or define Swift’s full set of political views.
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Likewise, a dated endorsement answers a narrow question—whom Swift publicly supported in a particular election—not whether every political position she holds fits one label. Claims about her broader ideology should be framed as interpretation, not as a conclusion proved by these remarks or endorsements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep later endorsement claims in their time context
On August 19, 2024, TIME reported that Swift had not officially endorsed a candidate in that year’s presidential election as of that date. TIME also documented Trump sharing pro-Trump images of Swift, some apparently AI-generated. Such imagery is not an authentic statement or endorsement from Swift. The TIME report describes the situation in August 2024; it should not be treated as a current account of endorsements in 2026. TIME’s report explains the images and its date-specific finding.
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