Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris for president moments after the tip of Tuesday night time’s presidential debate in opposition to Donald Trump.
The pop star made her announcement in an Instagram publish signed as “Childless Cat Woman” – a reference to feedback by Trump’s operating mate JD Vance.
Her publish, breaking her silence on the 2024 vote, defined: “I am voting for @kamalaharris as a result of she fights for the rights and causes I consider want a warrior to champion them.”
Swift, who additionally backed Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020, went on to name Harris a “steady-handed, gifted chief”.
She added: “I consider we are able to accomplish a lot extra on this nation if we’re led by calm and never chaos.”
Swift’s textual content was accompanied by a photograph of her with a cat. Her “Childless Cat Woman” remark was a nod to remarks made in 2021 by Vance, who’s Trump’s candidate for vice-president.
Vance, the Ohio senator, has confronted a backlash for a clip wherein he known as a number of distinguished Democrats – together with Harris – “a bunch of childless cat girls who’re depressing at their very own lives”. He just lately stated his feedback have been “sarcastic”.
Swift went on to go with Harris’s selection of vice-presidential candidate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who she stated had been “been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a lady’s proper to her personal physique for many years”.
The singer stated she was partly motivated to share her voting resolution with the general public after an AI picture of her falsely endorsing Trump was posted on his web site.
“It actually conjured up my fears round AI, and the risks of spreading misinformation,” she stated. “It introduced me to the conclusion that I have to be very clear about my precise plans for this election as a voter.”
Trump went on to embrace the pretend photos in a publish that sparked a backlash amongst Swift’s followers – or Swifties – who accused Trump of spreading misinformation.
Swift is considered one of a number of celebrities to endorse Harris, together with singers John Legend and Olivia Rodrigo, actor George Clooney and director Spike Lee.
In the meantime, former wrestler Hulk Hogan, TV star Amber Rose and billionaire Elon Musk have endorsed Trump.
Swift’s intervention got here after a fiery 90-minute presidential debate, throughout which the 2 candidates sparred over points corresponding to abortion rights, the financial system and immigration.
It isn’t the primary time the pop star has endorsed the Democratic nominee in a race in opposition to Trump. Swift introduced her assist for President Joe Biden and Harris as his vice-president a month earlier than the 2020 election.
Swift was additionally a vocal critic of Trump throughout his presidency surrounding the nationwide protests over the police homicide of George Floyd.
“After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your whole presidency, you might have the nerve to feign ethical superiority earlier than threatening violence?” she posted on Twitter/X. “We are going to vote you out in November.”
Noting Swift’s political previous, one tutorial who research the intersection of media and politics urged that the endorsement was unlikely to maneuver the needle in Harris’s favour.
“No shock in any respect, she endorsed Biden and Harris in 2020 so we already knew her politics,” stated Lauren Rosewarne, a College of Melbourne professor.
Swift’s endorsement might affect on voter registration, Ms Rosewarne instructed the BBC. However as a result of her fan-base skews younger and feminine – and that’s already the Harris supporter base – her endorsement could not have a big effect come November.
The singer has 283 million followers on Instagram. Her endorsement has obtained greater than 4.5 million likes on Instagram lower than three hours after she posted it.
In her publish, Swift urged first-time voters to register and stated she would publish a hyperlink with extra voting info on her web page.
“I’ve achieved my analysis, and I’ve made my selection,” she stated. “Your analysis is all yours to do, and the selection is yours to make.”