On the heels of the 2024 US Presidential debate, Taylor Swift broke her silence by endorsing Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris for office.
Swift had faced pressure from fans to reveal her vote given her silence in the wake of former president Donald Trump using generated images of her within his campaign and her scrutinised friendship with Brittany Mahomes, a fellow Kansas City Chiefs WAG who publicly supported the convicted felon.
Swift touched on the former in her statement, claiming Trump’s use of propaganda “conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation”.
Swift added that it brought her to the conclusion that she needs to be “very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” adding that “the simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth”.
She implored her fanbase to research “the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most” while declaring she also makes sure to “watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.”
Swift shared voting resources and advice for first-time voters before acknowledging each vote is deeply personal. “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make,” she wrote.
As for her rationale for co-signing the Harris-Walz ballot? “I’m voting for Kamala Harris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” she put simply. “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.”
The 34-year-old also praised Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, revealing she was “so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”
Swift concluded her statement of endorsement by taking a jab at Republican Vice President nominee JD Vance by proudly signing off as “childless cat lady”.
For the uninitiated, the Senator from Ohio declared that the US was effectively run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made” during a 2021 appearance on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight.
This comment earned the ire of several “childless” high-profile celebrities including Jennifer Aniston who publicly condemned the former author and venture capitalist.
“All I can say is… Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day,” the Friends actress began in a rare political message. “I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option because you are trying to take that away from her, too.”
Vance specifically targeted Harris and Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, by calling them examples of the “entire future” of the Democrats being “controlled by people without children” despite Harris being a stepmother to Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff’s two children from his previous marriage, Cole, 29, and Ella, 25.
For or fans of Swift, however, this statement has been a “long time coming,” to borrow a phrase from her discography. The musician made her first political statement in 2018—a watershed moment for the songstress chronicled in her 2020 documentary film Miss Americana. Swift endorsed President Joe Biden in the election of that year.
Charli XCX, who Swift also recently expressed her support for, furthered Harris’ bid earlier this year by tweeting “kamala IS brat” in reference to her viral studio album of the same name.
Beyoncé has also publicly endorsed Harris, along with Meghan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tory Burch and, of course, everyone’s favourite political nepo baby, contemporary Kennedy and internet boyfriend, Jack Schlossberg.
