Reince Priebus weighs in on right-wing Taylor Swift conspiracies: 'A powderkeg of stupidity'

Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Republican host committee chairman Reince Priebus speaks along side Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and Republican host committee chief executive officer Steve King, during an update on the preparations taking place for the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Officials held the press conference at the 3rd Street Market Hall in Milwaukee on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, addressing details of the convention to be held July 15-18, 2024.

Reince Priebus, chair of the Host Committee for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, called right-wing conspiracy theories that pop sensation Taylor Swift has been set up to sway the 2024 election for President Joe Biden "a powderkeg of stupidity."

"You're talking about two of the most popular things in America right now, Taylor Swift and the NFL. And we've got a party that wants to grow the tent. I don't think attacking those two ... is obviously the way to go," Priebus told ABC's "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos.

Priebus previously led the Wisconsin and national Republican parties and was former President Donald Trump's chief of staff.

Stephanopoulos had asked Priebus about Fox News personalities that "have become obsessed with the idea of Taylor Swift helping Joe Biden," including some believing that she is a Pentagon asset to help get the president reelected.

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has questioned whether the system is rigged to give Swift's relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce media coverage ahead of a Biden endorsement. Some conspiracists believe that announcement could happen at the Super Bowl next weekend.

The New York Times recently reported that Biden's campaign team is trying to figure out how to get Swift's endorsement. Swift, who endorsed Biden in 2020, has a massive fan base that overlaps with many of the voters he needs to court.

More: Some Republicans fear Taylor Swift could influence the election for Biden. Here's why.

Priebus said even if Swift takes a political position and doesn't like Trump, "it's not going to change, I don't think, anyone's votes in November." But "these kind of conspiracy theories" could do that.

"I think a lot of the things that are out there are clicks," he said. "Social media algorithms are driving our country further apart. And this is just one more of many things that you can read online or in social media that you have to just move on."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reince Priebus calls Taylor Swift conspiracies "a powderkeg of stupidity"

Advertisement