Title: Trump Campaign’s Fundraising T-shirt Sparks Controversy OverTaylor Swift’s Image
The United States presidential election campaign has taken a peculiar turn as former President Donald Trump’s team has launched a fundraising t-shirt that appears to borrow from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour merchandise, sparking widespread backlash and accusations of copyright infringement.
According to a report by Business Insider, the Trump campaign released a short-sleeve t-shirt featuring a large image of Trump’s face, replacing Taylor Swift’s portrait on the original Eras Tour merchandise. The t-shirt, priced at $45, also bears Trump’s name and his famous campaign slogan Make America Great Again.
The conflict escalated when Swift, known colloquially as Tay Tay or the Queen of Pop, publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, for the presidency. The Trump campaign’s move to capitalize on Swift’s popularity appears to have backfired, as fans, known as Swifties, have taken to social media to express their anger and demand legal action.
The t-shirt’s design includes the phrase Look What You Made Me Do, a direct reference to Swift’s 2017 hit song of the same name, which is known for its dark and vengeful themes. The Trump campaign seems to have embraced this confrontational approach, directly addressing Swift’s fanbase with a挑衅 call to action on social media platforms: Buy a Trump Era t-shirt today.
As of now, over 180,000 people have ordered the t-shirt, with the campaign setting a target of 200,000 orders. The pricing structure includes various donation amounts, starting at $45 and going up to $1000, indicating that the t-shirt serves as a significant fundraising tool for Trump’s campaign.
However, the move has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Many Swifties have flooded comment sections, accusing the Trump campaign of copyright infringement and urging Swift’s team to take legal action. One highly-upvoted comment expressed frustration at the Trump campaign’s appropriation of pop culture, stating, My culture is not your merchandise.
Others have directly addressed Swift’s publicist, Tree Paine, hoping for a response to the perceived slight. The backlash highlights the cultural divide in the United States, particularly during an election season where celebrities often take political sides.
In response to Swift’s endorsement of Harris, the Democratic campaign quickly capitalized on the situation. Just one hour after Swift’s statement of support, the Harris campaign website began selling Harris-Walsh Friendship Bracelets for $20, a type of bracelet that has become popular due to the Taylor Swift concert effect.
The controversy comes after Trump previously claimed that Swift and her fans supported him, with some images purporting to show such support being later debunked as AI-generated. Trump responded to Swift’s endorsement on September 11, suggesting that she might pay a price for her choice.
This latest incident underscores the polarizing nature of the upcoming election and the lengths to which campaigns are willing to go to secure votes and donations. While the Trump campaign may have hoped to tap into Swift’s vast fanbase, it appears to have instead reignited a cultural battle that has no clear winner.
As the election season continues to heat up, it remains to be seen how these celebrity endorsements and campaign tactics will impact the final outcome. For now, the war of words and merchandise continues to divide an already fractured political landscape in the United States.
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