Pro-Trump podcaster Dave Rubin has sparked outrage after seemingly insinuating that pop star Taylor Swift could be raped or killed by Venezuelan gangs following her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. Swift announced her support for Harris after Tuesday night’s debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump, prompting Rubin to suggest that Swift’s endorsement could put her in danger.
Rubin, a political commentator with nearly 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube, made the controversial remarks during his podcast on Wednesday. He was responding to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Elon Musk. Musk had replied to Swift’s Instagram post, which she signed “childless cat lady” — a potential reference to Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance’s past remarks about women without children. Musk’s response, “Fine Taylor … you win … I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life,” was interpreted by some as sarcastic, but Rubin took the opportunity to delve into a darker narrative.
Rubin commented on Musk’s post, saying, “So, he’s mocking, he’s exposing the ridiculousness.” He then turned his attention to Swift, adding, “Taylor Swift, you are a young, pretty girl. Do you know what the gang members from Venezuela do to young, pretty girls? It ain’t pretty.”
This statement quickly drew widespread condemnation. Critics on social media slammed Rubin for his comments, with one user writing, “This guy is insane.” Another person commented, “Between Dave Rubin and Elon Musk’s responses to Taylor Swift endorsing Harris, they’re really not beating the creepy weirdo allegations.” Some users even pointed out that Rubin’s comments might unintentionally motivate Swift’s fanbase to vote in higher numbers.
Rubin’s remark appears to tie into claims made by Trump and his supporters about violent criminals allegedly being released from Venezuelan prisons and crossing into the United States under the Biden administration’s immigration policies. However, no evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.
Swift’s endorsement of Harris emphasized her belief that Harris is a “warrior” for causes important to her. She encouraged her 283 million Instagram followers to do their own research and register to vote. Swift also promoted early voting, linking to resources for voter registration and information on early voting dates. Rubin has yet to comment further on the backlash to his remarks.
