Taylor Swift Announces Support for Kamala Harris in US Election

Fans posed for photos next to a Taylor Swift image ahead of her concert, following the cancellation of three scheduled performances in Vienna due to a planned attack, at Wembley Stadium in London, Britain, on 15 August 2024.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift officially endorsed Kamala Harris on Tuesday after Harris’ debate with Republican rival Donald Trump. Swift referred to the Democratic candidate as a “steady-handed, gifted leader” who could guide the nation with calm instead of chaos.

In an Instagram post, Swift informed her 280 million followers that she plans to vote for the U.S. Vice President in the upcoming 5 November election, marking the most significant celebrity endorsement for Harris to date. Polls indicate the race is currently neck and neck between the two contenders.

“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift wrote in her post.

The pop icon was pictured alongside her cat, signing the post as “childless cat lady” in a playful jab at Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, who previously referred to some Democrats as “a bunch of childless cat ladies” during a 2021 interview. Vance later explained that his comment was meant to be “sarcastic.”

Swift also expressed her admiration for Harris' running mate, Tim Walz, praising him as someone who “has been advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”

Walz, who was live on MSNBC when the endorsement was announced, expressed his gratitude, encouraging Swift’s massive fan base, the “Swifties,” to “get things moving.”

Reproductive rights have become a central issue for voters since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion two years ago. IVF fertility treatments have also garnered attention after an Alabama court ruled earlier this year that frozen embryos should be considered people.

Harris, a staunch supporter of abortion rights, has characterised Trump as a threat to reproductive freedom, citing his appointment of Supreme Court justices who contributed to overturning the Roe v Wade decision in 2022.

Although Trump has defended the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, he has argued that a federal abortion ban is unnecessary and that individual states should settle the matter.

In August, Trump shared a fabricated social media post depicting Swift urging people to vote for him in the November election.

Swift addressed this in her Instagram post on Tuesday night, stating that Trump’s action “stirred my concerns about AI and the risks of spreading misinformation.”

She concluded: “It made me realise the importance of being completely transparent about my voting plans for this election.”

Swift has previously supported Democratic candidates, including President Joe Biden in 2020. Her endorsement of Harris adds to a growing list of backing from figures within the entertainment industry. Numerous Hollywood actors, producers, and filmmakers have voiced their support for Harris, a California native, viewing her as their local candidate.

Harris currently resides in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles with her husband, Doug Emhoff, a former entertainment lawyer.