Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce slammed for hanging with Trump ally Wayne Gretzky: 'The rich like to stick together'

Time of India

13-06-2025

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were spotted at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 12, catching the action between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers from a VIP box in Sunrise, Florida. But while the couple's appearance drew plenty of attention, it was Swift's presence alongside NHL legend and known Donald Trump supporter Wayne Gretzky that quickly became the bigger talking point online, and not for the right reasons.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's date night
The couple arrived hand-in-hand at Amerant Arena in Sunrise, Florida, to watch the tense showdown between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. It marked one of their few public date nights since their joint appearance at Kelce's cousin's wedding.
For the occasion, Swift opted for a beige and crystal-studded Area track jacket with matching shorts, pairing the look with Prada heeled ankle boots and a black Chanel bucket bag. Her accessories included DeBeers diamond earrings, a Tiffany 'T' ring, and the Wove x Michelle Wie 'TNT' bracelet Kelce gave her.
taylor and travis at the stanley cup finals: a thread for oomfs pic.twitter.com/bpW4wMSINP
Kelce matched her energy in a bright red long-sleeve sweatsuit and red-white cap. Though both stars are currently in their offseasons, the night out was meant to be a low-key moment until the company they kept caused controversy.
Taylor Swift's MAGA proximity leaves fans uneasy
While the couple's fashion and PDA made headlines, it was their proximity to Wayne Gretzky that raised eyebrows. Gretzky, widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time, is also known for his far-right political views and support for the US President Donald Trump.
TAYLOR CASUALLY CHATTING WITH WAYNE GRETZKY HELLO THIS IS MY BRAND pic.twitter.com/e9ZV1J2Cql
The moment became especially uncomfortable for fans who remember that Trump has previously publicly bashed Swift, once saying he no longer found her hot and publicly declaring, "I hate Taylor Swift," after she endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris. Given Swift's history of advocating for liberal causes, including LGBTQ+ rights and voter registration campaigns, fans were left confused and disappointed by her apparent willingness to associate with someone whose values clash with her public persona.
Swifties flood Reddit with critical takes
One user wrote: 'Lmfaooooooo, Swifties, come get your girl who is dating a man who likes Trump and is now hanging out with Trump's bestie, who has been ousted from Canada. I don't know how she does it, honestly. I couldn't be friendly with people who are friends with a man who obsessively hates me.'
Another shared frustration over being previously dismissed for questioning Kelce's politics, 'I got eaten alive when I once commented that Travis is probably a MAGA supporter and it was sad to see who Taylor aligns herself with. But the rich like to stick together!'
A third person pointed out the bigger picture, writing, 'The company you keep is a reflection of you. I know there are inevitable run-ins with Trump supporters (work, school, neighbors), but at this point, when does her willing association with MAGA (multiple times) become a reflection of her? When does hanging out with these people out of her free will reflect her values? It renders her LGBTQ activism (if we can even call it that) as performative and her brand of feminism self-serving.'
Another user echoed similar sentiments, adding, 'Not saying she's MAGA, but it definitely says something that she's so comfortable being around MAGA people. And these aren't people she has to be with or that are important in her life; these are people she is CHOOSING to be around. Plenty of people don't want to cut people out just because of 'political differences,' but supporting Trump is supporting fascism; it's way beyond 'political differences.' I just think that tolerating fascism is pretty close to, if not the same as, being fascist. Fascism is a threat to everyone, but some people seem to think that they're privileged enough that it won't affect them.'
Check out more comments in the Reddit thread below:
Meanwhile, on the music front, Taylor Swift recently regained control of her masters, a major milestone in her years-long battle for ownership. She has yet to announce her next album.