<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper"><strong>Better than revenge</strong></h2>

Millions of fans hang on her every word. Embassies release statements about her.¹ Scholars hold conferences to discuss her work in hushed, reverent tones.² An alien visitor might be forgiven for assuming that she is some kind of prophet, not a singer.

But Taylor Swift is more than just a musician. Unlike other stars, she is also more than just a brand.

She is a lifelong project stretching from her teenage years, when she made waves for her soulful country music, to today: the winner, as of Sunday night, of a record four "Best Album" grammysThe most prestigious award in the US music industry. The trophy is shaped like a gilded gramophone. Last year, Billie Eilish won most of the main awards., performing the world over, emblazoned on the cover of TIME Magazine.

She straddles the whole media horizon, her relationship with American football star Travis KelceAn American football player who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. pushing wars and natural disasters on to page two.

Even non-fans have been captivated by this all-American scene, which could have been ripped straight from a high school film: the beautiful, slightly nerdy artistic girl finding true love with a handsome jockIn the US and Canada, a stereotypical athlete or sports star, particularly one who is still at school. .

In fact, for Swift-sceptics, it all seems a little too perfect. They whisper, for fear of exciting the wrath of the legions of online SwiftiesFans of singer Taylor Swift. , that even her love life is part of the Swift project: a whole life, private and public alike, not really lived, but told as a beautiful story to her fans.

In the last few weeks, growing numbers of Trump RepublicansPeople who believe a country should not have a king or queen, or in the US, members of the Republican party. have been echoing those whispers. This has led, experts say, to one of the strangest conspiracy theories in US politics: that the US government has turned Swift into an asset to get Joe Biden a second term in the White HouseThe official residence of the US president, in Washington DC. Burnt by British troops in 1814, it was rebuilt and painted white to hide the smoke stains..

Some conservatives believe that Swift's relationship with Kelce was set up by the "deep stateAccording to an American conspiracy, the deep state is a group of influential government agencies or members who secretly manipulate government policy. " to win her yet more media attention and unite two mainstays of American culture: Swift's music and the National Football LeagueThe major professional American football league in the USA. .

Some have even alleged that the NFL has rigged games to ensure she gets the crowning moment of her story: celebrating with her boyfriend as he wins the Super BowlAn American football match played each year to decide which team is the best in the country. .

And then, they claim, she and her boyfriend will turn around and issue an earthquake of an endorsement: Joe Biden for president.³

Experts say it seems unlikely that Swift's relationship was set up by the PentagonThe headquarters of the US Defence Department, so-called because it has five sides. In 1967, peace protestors attempted unsuccessfully to levitate it (making it rise into the air) until all evil emissions had fled, in the hope of ending the Vietnam War.. But some think conservatives are right to fear her power.

More than half of all Americans say they are Swift fans.⁴ And she is especially popular in the key 18 to 35 demographic that has been turned off Biden by his handling of Israel's war in GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. . A Swift endorsement might re-energise some of them.⁵

Moreover, it would be yet another pitch-perfect step in the Taylor Swift story: an icon of liberal feminism, but with roots in the moderate conservatism of country music, coming fresh from her all-American relationship to destroy the candidacy of the man who boasts that he ended the right to abortion. It would be like America itself rejecting Trump.

That could, observers say, become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Anticipating a Biden endorsement, some of Trump's allies have already gone on the attack against Swift, with one even declaring "holy war".⁶

Swifties are known for their devotion. Conservatives risk unleashing the power of her diehard fans on themselves before Swift has even said a word.

Could a pop star defeat Trump?

Yes: Swift is the master of self-presentation. She knows how high the stakes are. If she delivers an endorsement in this election, she will make it count.

No: Swift's endorsement would be a big coup for Biden. But in the end celebrity statements do not win elections. In 2016 Hillary Clinton assembled a vast crowd of famous supporters, and yet she still lost to Trump.

Or... The real risk for Trump is not that Swift endorses Biden, but that in raging about a deep state conspiracy involving a pop star and her boyfriend, he looks weird and alienates normal voters.

Grammys - The most prestigious award in the US music industry. The trophy is shaped like a gilded gramophone. Last year, Billie Eilish won most of the main awards.

Travis Kelce - An American football player who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jock - In the US and Canada, a stereotypical athlete or sports star, particularly one who is still at school.

Swifties - Fans of singer Taylor Swift.

Republicans - People who believe a country should not have a king or queen, or in the US, members of the Republican party.

White House - The official residence of the US president, in Washington DC. Burnt by British troops in 1814, it was rebuilt and painted white to hide the smoke stains.

Deep state - According to an American conspiracy, the deep state is a group of influential government agencies or members who secretly manipulate government policy.

National Football League - The major professional American football league in the USA.

Super Bowl - An American football match played each year to decide which team is the best in the country.

Pentagon - The headquarters of the US Defence Department, so-called because it has five sides. In 1967, peace protestors attempted unsuccessfully to levitate it (making it rise into the air) until all evil emissions had fled, in the hope of ending the Vietnam War.

Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.