Taylor Swift has made a surprising political move, taking to social media to endorse Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.Her endorsement came just hours after the first Presidential Debate, where Harris and Donald Trump went head-to-head.
In a post shared with her 238 million followers, Swift expressed her admiration for Harris, calling her a “steady-handed, gifted leader” and a “warrior” for causes she holds dear, such as LGBTQ+ rights and women’s reproductive freedoms.
Under a photo of her holding her cat Benjamin Button, Swift said that she had also watched the debate and done her own research into which candidate she would be voting for.
“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most,” she wrote. “As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.”
Swift’s decision to speak out was driven by a personal encounter with misinformation. A false AI-generated image showing her endorsing Donald Trump appeared on his website back in August, prompting her to address the growing issue of AI and fake news head-on.
“It really conjured up my fears around AI and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” the “Fortnight” singer wrote. “The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
The music juggernaut’s endorsement did not go unnoticed by the candidates. Following the debate, Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz praised Swift during an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, where he called her post both “eloquent” and courageous.
“I am incredibly grateful, first of all, to Taylor Swift,” Walz said. “That was eloquent, and that’s the type of courage we need in America to stand up.” Walz encouraged Swift’s loyal fanbase, known as “Swifties,” to visit the Harris-Walz campaign website and get involved in the election process.
Swift also included a playful yet pointed jab in her post, signing off as the “Childless Cat Lady,” referencing previous comments made by GOP vice-presidential candidate JD Vance about prominent Democrats without children.
It’s not first time the singer-songwriter has spoken up for Democratic candidates. In 2018, Swift famously broke her silence around politics to endorse Phil Bredesen in his race against Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, saying Blackburn’s voting record “appals and terrifies me.”
In the 2020 election between President Joe Biden and Trump, Swift shared her support for President Biden and Vice President Harris.
Swift joins the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, John Legend, George Clooney, Spike Lee, and many others who publicly support Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign.
SOURCE: BILLBOARD
