The Pop Corporation

The presidential race in the USA has a lot hanging on it, for sure, but regardless of that, the whole thing has made for some really good TV. It always does, because one thing the Americans love, is making great television. A thick line has been drawn and either side of it stand two candidates who couldn’t be more different.

One, a motormouth business mogul who has courted the hard evangelical right, the other, a metropolitan lawyer from reasonably humble beginnings – both in their own way, a very of the American Dream TM, depending on who you ask.

Last night, they debated each other and Donald Trump swung wildly, relying on some of the old routine and looking frazzled by a nimble footed Kamala Harris. The race for the White House is far from over, obviously – because The United States of America is not going to be swayed by a single debate overnight – but Harris proved to be a canny fighter, while Trump didn’t do the accusations that he and his party are ‘weird’ by talking about foreigners wanting to eat people’s cats and dogs.

It is remarkable that this is a notion that could be written in 2024 in one of the most developed countries in the world, but post-pandemic and in the post-truth period, inexplicably, anything still goes. And so, we’re looking at two of the most powerful people in the world throwing their hats into the ring. It’s not Harris and Trump we’re speaking about, but rather, Taylor Swift and Elon Musk.

After the sparring in Philadelphia, Taylor Swift mocked Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, by visually letting us know that she was a ‘childless cat mother’, by backing Harris for 2025. Speaking to her 283 million Instagram followers, Swift stated that she endorsed Harris, saying she is a “steady-handed, gifted leader,” adding, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.”

Musk meanwhile has been cosying up with Trump, most notably in a lengthy live chat with him on Twitter. Of course, Musk is one of the most powerful and wealthy people on the planet, but doesn’t quite have the cultural cache that Swift does, who in turn, doesn’t have Musk’s money. However, both have different but formidable platforms. For the most part, Swift has stayed out of politics, so her endorsement of the Democratic nominee was something of a surprising one.

What is telling is the type of message that is coming out of both camps, and how Musk and Trump echo each other, while Harris and Swift mirror each other too.

Swift’s measured response is not unlike Harris, who has refused to resort to actual name-calling, while Trump and Musk seem to be running with the idea that they’re untameable mavericks who just say whatever is on their minds, in whatever fashion they feel like in the moment. While Trump said “in Springfield, they’re eating the dogs – the people that came in – they’re eating the cats,” Musk responded to Swift’s considered post with a very unusual and creepy; “Fine Taylor… you win… I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life”.

It’s all whatever, because Musk thinks he’s funny and regardless of whether you agree that he is or isn’t, he clearly trying something. However, it is of note, because as hateful as Trump is, going back to his first run at being President of the USA, he was occasionally on fire on social media. Calling Kim Jong Un “little rocket man” and the like were jabs that landed. However, Trump’s mojo has run out and his barbed comments now seem as pale and wan as the face beneath his orange make-up. Musk too, has the air of someone trying to impress young men who are probably more likely to be insulting people while playing Call of Duty, or some shit. It’s all a bit cringe. And weird.

But will Musk invigorate a base to get out and vote for Trump? Will the distressingly red RFK Jr mobilise people to the polls? Or are there just too many faux anarchists and libertarians to take the bait? Swift’s championing of politicians have recordable results – in 2018, there was a spike in voter registrations with almost 65,000 voters aged between 19-29 engaging 24 hours after she spoke.

If this is a culture war we’re in the middle of, the pop culture war is starkly obvious. While Trump can count on the likes of Kid Rock, Amber Rose, Roseanne Barr, Hulk Hogan, Scott Baio and John Voight, Harris has support from not only Taylor Swift, actual Luke Skywalker Mark Hamill, Lizzo, Ariana Grande, and Mark Ruffalo.

Hamill referred to Trump’s debate performance as “angry, defensive and weird” and Ruffalo said: “Honestly, I was anxious about this debate but what is clear is that Kamala not only has a vision for the future and lifting America up but she is just so much even-tempered and so much smarter than Trump. She crushed him.”

The White Stripes re-emerged as a unified unit to sue Trump over his use of ‘Seven Nation Army’, with Jack White saying “don’t even think about using my music you fascists.” The estate of Isaac Hayes sued Trump for use of the soul singer’s music too, and desists came from ABBA, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, and Celine Dion.

Meanwhile, Trump resorted to sharing AI generated images that said ‘Swifties For Trump’ and ‘Taylor wants you to vote for Trump’ – the kind of mistake only an old person would make, which in turn, prompted Swift to endorse Harris, saying “It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”

And so, we’re left with two very separate camps, just as we seem to be looking at countrywide in the States. You suspect that Musk’s fans don’t have much crossover with those who love Taylor Swift and, if we are to stereotype each fandom, then as polls suggest, gender is playing a huge role in the decision making for who will be the next president. It’s a fascinating schism in US political life, both backed by celebrities with incredible wealth and both with their individual problematic behaviours.

Can Taylor Swift swing an election on her word? Could Musk’s terminally online fans do it for Trump? These are two big voices backing two very different candidates, and honestly, it feels like there’s more riding on it for the candidates themselves than those throwing their weight behind them.