National security professionals are accustomed to brushing off outlandish conspiracy theories, but the recent rumor circulating within MAGA circles has a distinct flavor of absurdity.
The assertion propagated by Fox News and far-right influencers suggests that Taylor Swift, the pop star, is involved in a Pentagon “psychological operation” aimed at securing President Joe Biden’s reelection and somehow manipulating the Super Bowl in favor of Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, Travis Kelce, who is also Swift’s boyfriend.
This conspiracy theory has left national security experts shaking their heads in disbelief.
Taylor Swift (Credits: NDTV)
In December, the conspiracy theory gained traction in the far-right corners of social media after Swift was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year on December 6.
Last month, Fox News host Jesse Watters dedicated a segment to the theory, playing a clip from a NATO conference that he claimed supported the idea of Swift being part of a Pentagon “psy-op” to combat online misinformation.
The Pentagon responded to the claims at the time, debunking the theory. However, the rumors persisted and continued to spread on social media.
Notably, influential figures in the MAGA sphere are now endorsing the bewildering notion that Swift’s relationship with Kelce, who gained notoriety in right-wing circles for appearing in a Pfizer ad promoting Covid and flu vaccines, is a part of a larger scheme orchestrated by the NFL and the Democratic Party.
According to this theory, Swift is expected to endorse Biden during the Super Bowl.
Confronted with a barrage of questions from journalists about the conspiracy theory, spokesperson Sabrina Singh was prepared to address the issue head-on.
In an effort to be forthright, Singh vehemently rejected the notion that Swift is involved in a Department of Defense (DOD) psychological operation.
“We know all too well the dangers of conspiracy theories, so to set the record straight — Taylor Swift is not part of a DOD psychological operation. Period,” Singh asserted in response to inquiries from POLITICO.
