LOS ANGELES, USA – Pop superstar Taylor Swift publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential candidacy Tuesday night.
Swift made the announcement to her 283 million Instagram followers after Harris’ high-stakes debate with former President Donald Trump, calling the Democratic nominee a “steady-handed, gifted leader.”
“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Swift wrote in her Instagram post.
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader, and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”
Swift’s support for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was seen by the Harris campaign as a major victory.
Campaign officials said they were “pleasantly surprised” by the endorsement, which they believe underscores Harris’ ability to draw support from influential figures.
The Grammy-winning artist also praised Walz’s long-standing record on LGBTQ+ rights and women’s reproductive rights, calling him a “champion” of these issues.
“I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice,” Swift added, urging her followers to do the same and register to vote.
Swift has become increasingly vocal in American politics in recent years, particularly after the release of her 2020 documentary, Miss Americana, which chronicled her decision to publicly oppose Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in her Senate race.
Though Blackburn ultimately won, Swift’s endorsement is credited with helping increase youth voter registration.
In her Instagram post, Swift also addressed recent incidents of misinformation circulating online.
She criticised images created by artificial intelligence that falsely suggested she endorsed the Trump-Vance ticket.
“Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” Swift said, emphasising the importance of transparency in combatting false information.
In response to Swift’s endorsement, Trump appeared unfazed, stating in a Fox News interview on Wednesday, “She seems to always endorse a Democrat, and she’ll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace.”
Despite Trump’s remarks, Swift’s influence is undeniable. In 2020, she endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, allowing the campaign to use her song “Only the Young” in an ad targeting young voters.
Her call to register to vote was credited with motivating tens of thousands of new voters across the country.
The singer’s endorsement has been met with enthusiasm from her fan base, with Swifties for Kamala, a grassroots group supporting Harris, saying they are “thrilled” by the timing of Swift’s announcement.
“We’ve had no doubt that Taylor would endorse at the right time and are excited about the momentum she will bring to this campaign,” said Irene Kim, co-founder of the group.
As the 2024 election nears, Swift’s endorsement may play a pivotal role in mobilizing younger voters—an increasingly crucial demographic in the race for the White House.
