Last season, Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes were often seen side by side, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs from the suites at Arrowhead Stadium. But things have changed this season, as the two were notably seated in separate suites during the Chiefs’ 27-20 opening night win against the Baltimore Ravens. This separation comes amidst a controversy surrounding Mahomes’ recent public support for former President Donald Trump.
Swift and Mahomes had formed a highly visible bond last season when Swift began attending games in support of her relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Their camaraderie in the suites was well-documented, becoming an almost iconic feature of Chiefs broadcasts, drawing attention from fans, especially women, as their friendship symbolized a new era for the Chiefs’ appeal.
However, during the 2024 season opener, Swift sat with Kelce’s mother, Donna, while Mahomes watched from a different suite with her daughter, Sterling Skye. The shift follows Mahomes’ Instagram activity, where she liked posts in support of Trump, sparking a wave of backlash. Her support for Trump became public on August 13 when she liked an Instagram post outlining Trump’s 2024 GOP platform. Screenshots of her social media activity circulated rapidly among Swift’s fanbase, leading to increased scrutiny and criticism.
In response to the backlash, Mahomes defended herself on Instagram, asserting the importance of respecting differing opinions and criticizing the hateful comments directed her way. She followed up with another post emphasizing that one can disagree with others and still be kind. Despite the controversy, she appeared to stand by her stance, engaging further by liking additional comments supportive of Trump, which eventually caught the attention of Trump himself. Trump publicly thanked Mahomes on his Truth Social account, praising her defense of him and the couple’s support for his campaign.
Patrick Mahomes, her husband and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, has not publicly commented on his wife’s political expressions. In fact, Patrick has remained apolitical in public, telling *Time* in April that he wouldn’t discuss his voting preferences. Nonetheless, he has continued to publicly support his wife, sharing warm birthday messages and family photos in late August, showing no sign of discord over Brittany’s political activities.
Meanwhile, the friendship between Swift and Mahomes appears to be in question, given their contrasting political views. While Swift has not yet endorsed a candidate for the 2024 election, her political activism leans sharply in the opposite direction. Swift has been a vocal advocate for Democratic candidates, supporting Joe Biden in the 2020 election and criticizing Trump’s presidency, calling it “racist” after the murder of George Floyd. She has also taken strong stances on issues such as abortion rights, LGBTQ inclusion, and gun control.
