'You know she's bought': Taylor Swift trolled as Jesse Watters asks if singer is a 'Pentagon psyop asset'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Fox News host Jesse Watters showcased a video in which he claimed a Department of Defense official proposed the idea of employing Taylor Swift in a government psychological operation.
Following his claims, Watters took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his take with his followers.
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Jesse Watters claims Taylor Swift is a psyop asset
Fox News anchor Jesse Watters took to X and wrote, “Is Taylor Swift a Pentagon PsyOp asset?”
Is Taylor Swift a Pentagon PsyOp asset? pic.twitter.com/yHp8WywKh8
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) January 10, 2024
Watters showed a video of a Department of Defense official suggesting that Taylor Swift might be used in a government psychological operation.
However, that is not what the video presented.
Watters said, “I like her music. She’s all right, but I mean, have you ever wondered why or how she blew up like this?”
He continued, “Well, around four years ago, the Pentagon psychological operations unit floated turning Taylor Swift into an asset during a NATO meeting. What kind of asset? A PsyOp for combatting online misinformation.”
The host then aired a 2019 clip of a woman giving presentation on a stage.
The woman said, “You came in here wanting to understand how you just go out and counter the information operation.”
“The idea is that social influence can help– can help encourage or promote behavior change… So, potentially as like a peaceful information operation… I include Taylor Swift in here because she’s– she’s, you know, a fairly influential online person. I don’t know if you’ve heard of her.”
As the clip concluded, Watters said, “Yeah, that’s real. Pentagon’s PsyOp unit pitched NATO on turning Taylor Swift into an asset.”
But it was also revealed that the woman giving the presentation wasn’t a Pentagon employee but a research engineer in applied physics at John Hopkins University.
Is Taylor Swift a Pentagon PsyOp asset? pic.twitter.com/yHp8WywKh8
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) January 10, 2024
It's possible that Watters drew inspiration for the misleading segment from a three-minute excerpt of the CYCON video. This snippet was shared on Twitter by former State Department official Mike Benz, who had worked under Donald Trump.
Benz wrote, “Watch the incredible moment that a rep from the Pentagon’s psychological operations research firm pitched NATO’s military psyops center on turning Taylor Swift into an asset for the Western military alliance to stop “disinformation” on the Internet.”
Watch the incredible moment that a rep from the Pentagon's psychological operations research firm pitched NATO's military psyops center on turning Taylor Swift into an asset for the Western military alliance to stop "disinformation" on the Internet. https://t.co/BYIordpx18 pic.twitter.com/ThXhnjiFMD
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) January 9, 2024
Internet says Taylor Swift is 'bought'
Many X users took brutal jabs at Taylor Swift following Jesse Watters' claims.
One person wrote, “Yes I think she is. At the very least, they hope that she can use her vast social media presence to to influence voters or their parents,” while another added, “I just want her to go away. I don't care who owns her.”
Do they not know that she’s a THIRTY FOUR yr old stuck as a teenager ?
— Sam Foster (@shodansam) January 10, 2024
"Is Taylor Swift a Pentagon PsyOp asset?"
— Hellooo_Kittah (@Hellooo_Kittah) January 10, 2024
Yes, she is.
She's all over the CCP's TikTok and will be using her platform to push Biden in the election.
An X user simply slammed Swift writing, “When she ask her audience to vote for Biden, you know she's bought,” while another said, “I know it’s true because I literally get sick to my stomach when I see her or hear the name. It’s a simple “gut reaction”. What gross times we live in.”
I know it’s true because I literally get sick to my stomach when I see her or hear the name. It’s a simple “gut reaction”. What gross times we live in.
— Rsl (@anmlbhvr7) January 10, 2024
when she ask her audience to vote for Biden, you know she's bought
— The White Rabbit 🐇 (@WR_Samurai) January 10, 2024
Calling out the singer, a user wrote, “"Is Taylor Swift a Pentagon PsyOp asset?" Yes, she is. She's all over the CCP's TikTok and will be using her platform to push Biden in the election.”
Another asked, “Do they not know that she’s a THIRTY FOUR yr old stuck as a teenager?”
I just want her to go away. I don't care who owns her.
— backyotruckup (@backyotruckup) January 10, 2024
Yes I think she is. At the very least, they hope that she can use her vast social media presence to to influence voters or their parents.
— Croxxed Out (@FLCons) January 10, 2024
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
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