Iconic American actress, comedian and singer Bette Midler took to social media on Sunday to accuse former President Donald Trump of inciting violence against singer Taylor Swift, shortly after Trump survived a second assassination attempt.
Midler tweeted, “Trump rage-tweeting his hate for #TaylorSwift is not just dangerous, it's illegal. He is putting out a hit on her, and we all know it.” Midler further claimed that Trump was encouraging his supporters to do his “dirty work.” The tweet, which quickly went viral, ended with Midler urging Swift to “sue the diapers off him.”
The controversy stems from Trump's post earlier that day on Truth Social, where he stated, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT” following her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Swift also criticized Trump for retweeting AI-generated images suggesting she supported his campaign.
While many users agreed with Midler's concerns about potential violence, others criticized her for potentially provoking violence against Trump, especially given the recent assassination attempt.
On the same day as the social media exchange, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested after allegedly stalking Trump with an AK-style weapon at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to officials, Routh waited 12 hours in hiding, aiming to target Trump before being spotted by Secret Service agents. Trump's campaign confirmed he was “safe following gunshots in his vicinity.”
The incident has sparked a renewed debate over the rhetoric used by public figures and its potential consequences.
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