Massively popular singer Taylor Swift has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election, citing her running mate’s support of the LGBTQ+ community. Swift endorsed Harris to her over 283 million Instagram followers mere minutes after Harris’ successful debate against former President Donald Trump.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, thanked Swift for the endorsement after lesbian MSNBC anchorwoman Rachel Maddow read it aloud to him after the debate. Swift’s endorsement could help Harris win in an election that will likely come down to a handful of voters in several swing states.
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“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight,” Swift wrote in her endorsement. “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election…. because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”
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“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 continued. “I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”
Swift added that she was recently made aware that Trump posted fake images of her endorsing him, generated by artificial intelligence, that “really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation.”
“It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” she added. “The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
She ended her endorsement by telling her followers to research the candidates and make their own choice. She also reminded them to register to vote and posted informational links about registering and early voting, something she called “much easier” than voting in person on Election Day.
She ended her endorsement by writing, “With love and hope, Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady.” The post included an image of Swift holding a cat.
The line referred to vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance’s (R-OH) claim that Democrats are led by a bunch of “childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices they made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too.” His comment has been repeatedly criticized for needlessly mocking childless individuals who are devoted to the country’s betterment.
Maddow read the endorsement to Walz last night. Walz said he was “incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift,” adding, “I say that also as a fellow cat owner.”
“[Her endorsement] was eloquent and it was clear, and that’s the kind of courage we need in America to stand up,” he continued, noting that he has seen similar courage from Republicans who have publicly opposed Trump as well as women who have done the same after nearly dying from when doctors refuse to give them life-saving abortions in fear of being prosecuted under state abortion bans that have flourished since the majority-Republican Supreme Court ended the federal right to an abortion.
Walz then encouraged Swifties, the name for Swift’s fanbase, to go to the Harris-Walz campaign website to help volunteer and organize for their presidential campaign.
Tim Walz on Taylor Swift endorsement: I’m grateful to Taylor Swift and I say that as a cat owner. That was eloquent and clear and that’s the type of courage we need in America pic.twitter.com/l2h5UKqYGN
While it’s unclear whether Swift’s endorsement will help tip the election in Harris’ favor, it certainly couldn’t hurt.
Swift’s post was liked by over 6,113,932 people as of early Wednesday morning. The Instagram group “Swifties for Kamala,” which has nearly 53,000 followers, also posted a statement in support of it.
“We never doubted that Taylor would endorse at the right time because we know that her values align with Harris and our community,” the group said in a Tuesday night post following Swift’s endorsement.
“Our coalition has amassed more than 3,500 active volunteers, gained over 280,000 social media followers, raised over $150,0900 for the Harris campaign, and has mobilized over 90,000 people to take action to check their voter registration,” the group added. “We have also been able to donate over $13,000 to voter registration efforts.”
“We’re confident Taylor’s words will have a positive impact and encourage more people to join us in our mission to elect Vice President Harris,” the group wrote.
The New York Times has previously speculated that fundraising appeals from Swift could bring in millions of dollars for Harris. Swift’s endorsement could also persuade her countless young fans to vote, and young voters are much more likely to vote Democratic.
This all has led some Republicans to beg Swift not to get involved in the 2024 election. One commentator – Fox News’s Jesse Watters – even declared her a Pentagon psyop. A “psyop” refers to military actions used to control people’s beliefs and perceptions and is often a feature of right-wing conspiracy theories.
During Pride Month 2023, Swift told concertgoers in Chicago, “Right now and in recent years, there have been so many harmful pieces of legislation that have put people in the LGBTQ and queer community at risk. It’s painful for everyone. Every ally, every loved one, every person in these communities.”
