How to sway an election
It’s an election year, and as Donald Trump continues his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, the 77-year-old has found himself an unusual nemesis—pop star Taylor Swift.
The 34-year-old singer had an unprecedented 2023 with her record-breaking Eras Tour, reaching billionaire status, as well as going public with her new boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce.
Swift was even named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” for 2023, but apparently, Trump believes the honor should have been his. The former president reportedly said he’s more popular than the Grammy winner, believing that a rumored endorsement from Swift won’t help Democratic rival Joe Biden win, according to a report in the Rolling Stone published Tuesday. Source Newsweek.
Donald Trump will not win a war against the Swifties; Business Insider
Lesson plan:
- Begin by asking students what they know about Taylor Swift. What is her impact on popular culture? How has she used her platform to speak out about social and political issues in the past?
- Next, ask students to read this article and summarize it.
- Once students have had a chance to read the article, lead a discussion about the following questions:
- What are the key points of the article?
- What is the potential impact of Taylor Swift’s endorsement on the 2024 US presidential election?
- How do you think Republicans and Democrats will react to her endorsement?
- What is the role of celebrities in politics? Do they have a responsibility to use their platform to speak out about political issues?
- Should celebrities be allowed to endorse candidates?
- Watch the video above and have the students discuss it afterwards.
- After the discussion, have students write a short presentation on their thoughts about the article.
Presidents who have been endorsed by celebrities.
Look at the list below and write about one of the presidents and how you think having famous people support them helped in getting elected.
- Barack Obama was endorsed by many celebrities in both his 2008 and 2012 campaigns, such as Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, George Clooney, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Springsteen1. He won both elections with a majority of the popular and electoral votes and is widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential presidents in recent history.
- Donald Trump also had some celebrity supporters in his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, such as Kanye West, Kid Rock, Kirstie Alley, and Jon Voight3. He won the 2016 election despite losing the popular vote but faced a lot of controversy and criticism during his presidency. He lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden but refused to concede and claimed fraud.
- John F. Kennedy was backed by some of the biggest stars of his time, such as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Harry Belafonte, and Sammy Davis Jr… He won the 1960 election by a narrow margin and became the youngest president ever elected. He is remembered for his charisma, leadership, and vision, but also for his assassination in 1963.
- Ronald Reagan was himself a former actor and had the support of many Hollywood figures, such as Clint Eastwood, Charlton Heston, John Wayne, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He won the 1980 and 1984 elections by landslide margins and is credited with revitalizing the economy, ending the Cold War, and restoring national confidence.
Extension Activities:
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Argumentative:
Should celebrities like Taylor Swift have a place in influencing political elections? Consider both the potential benefits and drawbacks, drawing on examples from history and the current political climate.2. Analytical:
Analyze the potential impact of Taylor Swift’s endorsement on different demographic groups within the US electorate. How might her influence vary across age, gender, political affiliation, and other factors?3. Comparative:
Compare and contrast Taylor Swift’s political involvement with that of other celebrities in recent US history. What are the similarities and differences in their approaches, messages, and effectiveness?
