Trump’s ‘No Longer Hot’ Comment About Taylor Swift...

Amid serious discussions on the economy and President Biden’s cancer diagnosis announcement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt found herself navigating an unexpected—and eyebrow-raising—question during Monday’s briefing: What did President Donald Trump mean when he claimed Taylor Swift is “no longer hot”?

The query, posed by Fox News’ Peter Doocy, prompted some laughter in the briefing room. But the moment quickly turned serious as Leavitt responded with a straight face, clarifying that the former president’s comment referred to Swift’s political influence—not her appearance.

“Look, he is speaking about Taylor Swift’s political views and how perhaps it has impacted the support of the American public for her work,” Leavitt explained. “And I’ll leave it at that.”

The remark in question stems from a post made by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, last Friday. In it, the former president wrote:
“Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’”

This comment quickly went viral, with critics accusing Trump of making a disparaging remark about Swift’s looks. Others viewed it as another example of the ongoing feud between Trump and the pop star, which has taken on an increasingly political tone over the years.

The latest round in their public sparring follows Swift’s endorsement of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. After Swift urged her followers on Instagram last year to register to vote, national voter registration numbers saw a significant spike. This move didn’t go unnoticed by Trump, who responded harshly at the time by posting, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”

Swift has largely avoided direct responses to Trump’s criticisms, but her political activism has clearly struck a nerve. Once apolitical, the Grammy-winning singer began speaking out more openly in recent years, especially on issues like LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and voting access. Her influence has proven powerful among younger voters, which political strategists on both sides are watching closely heading into the 2024 election.

Trump’s latest jab seems to be an attempt to downplay her influence. But critics argue that reducing a political disagreement to whether or not someone is “hot” reflects poorly on the tone of public discourse.

Social media reactions to Trump’s comment were swift (pun intended), with many users defending the singer and calling the remark immature and sexist. Others took the opportunity to poke fun at Trump, accusing him of being unable to handle criticism from influential figures like Swift.

Meanwhile, Leavitt’s clarification attempts to walk a fine line between defending the president and distancing the administration from the potential implications of his words. By framing the comment as a critique of Swift’s political sway rather than her appearance, Leavitt sought to shift the focus back to the former president’s broader frustrations with celebrity involvement in politics.

Still, the exchange highlights how pop culture and politics continue to collide in the Trump era. While the country grapples with serious issues—from healthcare to inflation—the political spotlight can still shift in an instant toward celebrity drama.

As the 2024 campaign season heats up, it’s likely this won’t be the last time Swift and Trump cross paths in headlines. Whether or not Swift chooses to engage directly again remains to be seen, but her influence is clearly a factor the Trump team isn’t taking lightly. Whether he meant it or not, Trump’s comment only amplified Swift’s presence in the political conversation.

For now, the singer has not responded publicly to Trump’s latest statement—but based on past patterns, she may let her next move speak louder than words.