Donald Trump says he ‘likes Taylor Swift 25 per cent less’ after she backs Democrats in Instagram post

She pledged to support Phil Bredesen for the Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives, in Tennessee's midterm elections.

The 28-year-old said she had chosen to speak out now "due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years".

But the US President quickly defended one of the Republican candidates claiming he now liked Swift's music "25 per cent less".

He said: "Marsha Blackburn is doing a very good job in Tennessee. She's leading now, substantially, as she should.

"She's a tremendous woman, I am sure Taylor Swift does not know anything about her and let's say that I like Taylor's music 25 per cent less now."

A video has since emerged, posted by wife Melania Trump, of the president and his son Barron listening to a Swift track during a drive in 2014.

But in her Instagram post, Swift criticised Blackburn for her stance on LGBTQ rights and domestic violence.

She then added she feels "any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG".

Swift said: "I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of colour is terrifying, sickening and prevalent."

Swift went on to say that she will not vote for Blackburn, despite her desire to see more women in office.

She said: "I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin colour, gender or who they love."

Swift added: "As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn.

"Her voting record in Congress appals and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women.

"She voted against the reauthorisation of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape.

"She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples.

"She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values."

The singer also asked her followers to "educate" themselves and to choose the one who "who most closely represents your values".

She added: "For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100 per cent on every issue, but we have to vote anyway.

"So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count."

Mr Bredesen later thanked Swift - who lived in Tennessee as a teen - for her endorsement in a tweet thanking her for her "kind words".

He wrote: "I'm honoured to have your support and that of so many Tennesseans who are ready to put aside the partisan shouting and get things done.

"We're ready for it."

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