Jesse watters’ unusual claim of swift’s alleged collaboration with pentagon sparks pentagon’s response

In an unexpected turn of events, the Pentagon has been forced to quash a peculiar conspiracy theory suggesting that global pop sensation Taylor Swift is secretly involved in a psychological operation (psy-op) to combat online misinformation. Fox News host Jesse Watters stirred the controversy on his show, claiming that around four years ago, the Pentagon’s psychological operations unit considered turning Taylor Swift into an asset during a NATO meeting.

Watters attempted to bolster his claim by airing a video, alleging it featured a Department of Defense official discussing the idea of using Swift as a psy-op to influence public opinion. The host insinuated that the government sought to leverage Swift’s influence to counteract online misinformation.

The video, however, did not feature a Pentagon employee but rather Alicia Marie Bargar, a research engineer at Johns Hopkins University. Bargar was presenting her research on how information spreads online, using hypothetical scenarios, including one involving Taylor Swift. The clip shared by Watters was notably edited down to a brief excerpt from Bargar’s comprehensive presentation.

Responding to the bizarre allegations, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh issued a light-hearted statement to Politico. Singh referenced one of Swift’s hit songs, stating, “As for this conspiracy theory, we are going to shake it off.” She concluded the statement with a playful mention of the need for Congress to approve their budget swiftly.

The Pentagon’s swift response highlights the increasing prevalence of unconventional conspiracy theories in popular media, with even global celebrities like Taylor Swift becoming unexpected focal points in such narratives.