Taylor Swift, who describes herself as a “childless woman” and is one of the world’s most popular and influential stars, has endorsed Kamala Harris for President of the United States.
Swift broke her silence on Tuesday to voice her support for Harris over Donald Trump, calling the Democratic nominee “a determined, talented leader.”
“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” she wrote on Instagram.
The post came minutes after the televised presidential debate in which the two candidates faced off for the first time, a debate the singer revealed she watched.
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for rights and issues that I believe need a warrior,” Swift said.
“I believe we can achieve a lot in this country if we move forward with peace instead of chaos.”
She described herself as a “childless cat lady” at the end of her Instagram post, a dig at a much-discussed sentiment expressed by Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance, which he has used to disparage Democratic women.
Trump criticized Swift during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday.
“I was never a fan of Taylor Swift… She’s a very liberal person. She always seems to support the Democrats, and she probably pays a price for that in the market,” he said.
‘instill fear’
Until Tuesday, Swift had remained conspicuously silent on a 2024 run, even as many of her fans began organizing under the banner “Swifties for Kamala.”
But the 34-year-old said that when she came across images generated by AI that falsely supported Trump — which “increased my fear of AI, and the danger of spreading misinformation” — she said it inspired her to speak out.
“This led me to the conclusion that as a voter I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election,” she said.
“The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
He encouraged his loyal fans to “do your research.”
Swift, who just returned from the European leg of her blockbuster “Eras” tour, refrained from explicitly telling her ardent supporters to vote for Harris, saying instead “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice.”
“It’s your job to do the research, and it’s your job to make the decision.”
He also shared this post on his Instagram stories with the voter registration link.
The artist expressed particular support for Harris’ fellow candidate Walz, praising the Minnesota governor for “standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and women’s right to their own bodies for decades.”
Team Harris has been quick to accept any encouragement from the pop world, which is generally left-wing in its leanings, and several stars have publicly supported them.
Beyoncé hasn’t directly endorsed the Democrat, but she has given Harris’ camp permission to use her song “Freedom” in ads and on the campaign trail.
British artist Charli XCX saw her hit album “Brat” become a staple of Harris’s early campaign as Democrats competed to stay on the pulse of social media.
“With love and hope”
A global celebrity with millions of loyal fans, Swift’s influence is widespread and her approval is universal.
The “Blank Space” singer stayed away from politics for several years, including in 2016 when Trump won the presidency.
There was speculation that she was a secret Republican until 2018, when she endorsed far-right politician Marsha Blackburn’s Democratic opponent in Tennessee.
Blackburn won, but it marked the start of a new chapter for Swift.
She later revealed that her managers had urged her against expressing political opinions, saying it could harm her career – especially in the country music industry, which is often seen as being associated with conservatism.
Since then, Swift has endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and has promoted pro-LGBTQ messages through her songs and music videos.
He also denounced the Supreme Court’s repeal of the federal right to abortion, and encouraged his fans to register to vote.
Speaking on his own terms on Tuesday night, he took over the news cycle in a matter of seconds, and his post received more than two million “likes” after just 30 minutes.
He ended his message with, “With love and hope, Taylor Swift.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
