WASHINGTON: Pop superstar Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris following Harris’ debate with Republican rival Donald Trump. Swift praised Harris as a “steady-handed, gifted leader” who could bring calm rather than chaos to the country.
In an Instagram post, Swift announced to her 280 million followers that she will vote for the U.S. vice president in the November 5 election, marking the most significant celebrity endorsement for Harris to date. Polls indicate a tight race between both candidates.
“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she advocates for the rights and causes I believe need a dedicated champion,” Swift wrote in her post.
Accompanied by a photo with her cat and signing off as “childless cat lady”—a jab at Trump’s running mate JD Vance, who in 2021 referred to some Democrats with that term—Swift made a clear statement. Vance later claimed his comment was meant to be sarcastic.
Swift also expressed admiration for Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, describing him as someone who has long supported women’s autonomy over their own bodies. Walz, who was on MSNBC when the endorsement broke, expressed his “incredible gratitude” and encouraged Swift’s large fan base, known as “Swifties,” to get involved.
Previously, Swift has supported Democrats, backing President Joe Biden in 2020. Her endorsement of Harris adds to the growing list of Hollywood figures backing the vice president, who is seen by many in the entertainment industry as their hometown candidate. Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, a former entertainment lawyer, reside in Brentwood, a celebrity-filled neighborhood in Los Angeles.
