In a high-profile move, Taylor Swift, one of the world’s most influential pop stars, publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president shortly after the conclusion of the presidential debate on September 10.
Swift took to Instagram late Tuesday, expressing her belief in Harris’ leadership qualities, saying, “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.” Along with the post, Swift shared a link to a voter registration site, encouraging her followers to engage in the democratic process.
The endorsement, which took many by surprise, quickly gained traction, amassing over 2.3 million likes within 30 minutes. Swift’s post included a photo of herself holding her cat, Benjamin Button, and was humorously signed “Childless Cat Lady,” referencing a remark made by JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate. Vance had previously commented that women without children might not have as much at stake in the country’s future, a sentiment that many, including Swift, found offensive.
Swift, who has a massive following of young women—an essential demographic in the upcoming November election—has long been a vocal advocate for social justice issues. Her endorsement of Harris aligns with her previous political stances. In 2020, Swift endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, criticizing Trump’s handling of key issues, particularly his role in stoking “the fires of white supremacy and racism.”
The Harris campaign clarified that Swift’s endorsement wasn’t coordinated. Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, appeared visibly surprised upon hearing the news during a live interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. As Maddow read Swift’s Instagram post aloud, Walz broke into a smile and placed his hand over his chest, remarking, “That was eloquent. And it was clear. And that’s the kind of courage we need in America to stand up.”
Swift explained that her decision to endorse Harris was partially influenced by Trump’s recent use of artificial intelligence-generated images, falsely portraying her as one of his supporters. One image showed Swift dressed as Uncle Sam, accompanied by the phrase “Taylor wants YOU to VOTE for DONALD TRUMP.” This move pushed Swift to clarify her political stance. “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice,” Swift wrote, emphasizing that transparency about her voting plans was important to her.
Donald Trump quickly responded to Swift’s endorsement, dismissing it as inevitable. During an interview on Fox & Friends, Trump remarked, “It was just a question of time… She’s a very liberal person who always seems to endorse a Democrat, and she’ll probably pay a price in the marketplace.” Swift, however, has proven herself to be resilient to such criticism, as her fanbase continues to grow, particularly among Democrats and progressive voters.
An October 2023 Fox News poll revealed that 55% of voters overall, including 68% of Democrats, have a favorable view of Swift. Among Republicans, however, opinion is divided, with 43% viewing her favorably and 45% unfavorably.
Swift is a leading nominee at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, set to take place in New York. Although it’s unclear whether Swift will attend, there is speculation that she might use an acceptance speech to further elaborate on her political views, including her endorsement of Harris. The awards ceremony was rescheduled to accommodate the presidential debate, highlighting the ongoing intersection of politics and pop culture. MTV, known for its voter outreach initiatives, continues to promote political engagement, particularly among young viewers.
With the 2024 election shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent history, Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris further amplifies the role of celebrity influence in modern American politics. For Harris, the backing of a pop icon like Swift could serve as a key factor in mobilizing young voters in what is expected to be a tight race.