Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris for US President

AFP/APP

New York: Taylor Swift, who has previously described herself as a “childless cat lady,” has officially endorsed Kamala Harris for President of the United States. The global megastar broke her silence on US politics Tuesday, expressing support for Harris over Donald Trump and describing the Democratic candidate as a “steady-handed, gifted leader.”

“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Swift posted on Instagram shortly after the first televised presidential debate. Swift stated that she had watched the debate and felt compelled to voice her support.

“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift wrote. “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.”

Swift signed off her post with a nod to a term used against her by Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, referring to herself as a “childless cat lady.” This was a response to AI-generated images falsely depicting her as endorsing Trump, which she said spurred her to address misinformation.

“The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth,” she said, urging her fans to “do your research.”

Fresh off her European “Eras” tour, Swift did not explicitly tell her supporters to vote for Harris but encouraged them to make their own informed decisions. She also praised Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz, for his long-standing advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and women’s rights.

Swift’s endorsement is significant given her immense social media following and influence. Though she had previously avoided political endorsements, Swift’s past political actions include endorsing Joe Biden in 2020 and expressing support for LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive rights. Her endorsement of Harris is expected to have a notable impact on public discourse.

With her post garnering over two million likes within 30 minutes, Swift’s message was widely received, concluding with: “With love and hope, Taylor Swift.”