Javier Milei, a far-right libertarian economist, is facing opposition from Argentine Swifties, fans of pop star Taylor Swift, as he campaigns for the presidential runoff election. These fans have taken to social media to criticize Mr. Milei and his rising libertarian party, viewing them as a threat to Argentina. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift herself is preparing for her Eras Tour launch in Argentina. The Swifties, inspired by Swift’s efforts to confront right-wing politicians in the United States, have created a group called Swifties Against Freedom Advances, urging fellow fans to vote against Mr. Milei. They argue that his positions on issues such as abortion, gun laws, feminism, and education reform pose a danger to democracy. Mr. Milei has dismissed the Swifties’ criticism, stating that they are entitled to express their opinions. In addition to the Swifties, Mr. Milei and his running mate, Victoria Villarruel, are also facing backlash from fans of the K-pop band BTS, known as the BTS Army, after Villarruel’s derogatory tweets about the group resurfaced. These developments have shifted the conversation away from Mr. Milei’s economic proposals and towards his conservative social views. Despite the opposition, Mr. Milei’s political base relies heavily on young voters, who see him as a “cool” outsider candidate. The upcoming runoff election between Mr. Milei and his opponent Sergio Massa appears to be highly competitive.
