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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Taylor Swift said she believed Donald Trump thought he was leading an autocracy during a Guardian interview published August 23, 2019. The headline phrase condenses the final sentence of a longer remark about democracy and dissent; it was Swift’s opinion, not an independently verified account of Trump’s beliefs.
What did Taylor Swift say?
In the interview with Guardian journalist Laura Snapes, Swift said: “We’re a democracy – at least, we’re supposed to be – where you’re allowed to disagree, dissent, debate. I really think that he thinks this is an autocracy.” The Guardian interview was published on August 23, 2019, when Swift was 29.
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“He thinks this is an autocracy” is a shortened rendering of her concluding sentence. The preceding words matter: Swift contrasted her understanding of democracy—with room for disagreement, dissent, and debate—with what she believed Trump thought about his presidency. The statement is her interpretation of his view, not a factual finding about his beliefs or a neutral description of the U.S. political system.
What was the interview about?
Snapes reported that Swift was reflecting on her disillusionment with American values and the period around the 2016 election. Swift said she had limited her exposure to news to protect her mental health, voted, and encouraged others to vote. She expressed remorse about not speaking publicly during the election and said she would otherwise have endorsed Hillary Clinton.
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The interview also touched on other political and personal subjects. Swift said, “Obviously, I’m pro-choice,” and described the strain of that period: “I just knew what I could handle and I knew what I couldn’t. I was literally about to break.” These remarks provide context for her account of why she had held back from speaking publicly.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is the quote sometimes linked to other events?
The Guardian published the interview on the release day of Swift’s seventh album, Lover. That is release-week context, not the subject of the political statement.
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A Los Angeles Times report published August 27, 2019, revisited the comment while covering Swift’s political activity and the MTV Video Music Awards. It reported that Trump responded by saying he liked her music “about 25% less.” That later response is separate from the original interview.
In May 2020, the Guardian referred back to the 2019 quote while reporting on a different exchange: Swift’s response to Trump’s remarks about protests in Minneapolis. The 2020 coverage concerns a later event and should not be mistaken for the source or date of the autocracy comment.
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