U.S. President Joe Biden jestingly brushed aside conspiracy theories linking him with pop sensation Taylor Swift during an appearance on a late-night show, offering a tongue-in-cheek response to inquiries about her potential endorsement in 2024: “that’s classified.”
In his guest spot on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Biden, a Democrat, bantered with Meyers, a comedian, over the notion that he and the singer-songwriter were colluding.
Meyers referenced polling data indicating that 18% of Americans believed in a covert alliance between Biden and Swift.
“Can you confirm or deny that there is an active conspiracy between you and Ms. Swift?” Meyers quizzed Biden.
“Where are you getting this information?” the president quipped, eliciting laughter. “It’s classified.”
Highlighting Swift’s influential backing in his 2020 campaign, Biden hinted optimistically, “You think it might come around again?”
“I told you, it’s classified,” Biden reiterated playfully.
Biden’s appearance on the show, recorded on Monday and aired early on Tuesday, underscores his efforts to engage with younger demographics and dispel concerns regarding his age following scrutiny over his memory and cognitive sharpness.
Drawing attention to his potential Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, Biden, 81, pointed out their close age proximity and Trump’s verbal stumbles, including a recent gaffe at the CPAC conference where he seemingly confused his wife’s name with that of a conference organizer, Mercedes Schlapp.
Addressing apprehensions about his age, Biden juxtaposed his policies with Trump’s, notably on abortion rights.
Biden reaffirmed his support for women’s reproductive rights, contrasting with Trump’s pride in appointing justices who played a role in overturning the Roe v. Wade decision.
“It’s about how old your ideas are.
Look, I mean, this is a guy who wants to take us back,” Biden remarked, alluding to Trump’s stance on issues such as abortion.
“He wants to take us back in Roe v. Wade. He wants to take us back on a whole range of issues.”