American singer Taylor Swift announced Tuesday that she is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election, putting to rest speculation about whether she would share her political views ahead of the November election.
“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country,” Swift wrote on Instagram, following Harris’ debate with her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, on ABC News.
Swift also addressed recent concerns about the misuse of AI, stating, “Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It 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. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth. I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election.”
The debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris took place at The National Constitution Center on September 10 in Philadelphia.
Swift emphasised Harris’ choice of Tim Walz as her running mate in her endorsement. “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. 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. 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 wrote.
She encouraged her fans to do their own research and emphasised the importance of being registered to vote, especially for first-time voters. “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. I also want to say, especially to first-time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story,” Swift added.
Signing off the post with humor, Swift referred to herself as a “childless cat lady,” referencing a previous critique from JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, aimed at Democrats.
In 2020, Swift publicly supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in their White House bid. While she stayed quiet on political matters for much of her career, she became more vocal starting with the 2018 midterms, endorsing Democratic candidates in Tennessee. Since then, she has advocated for Democratic policies, particularly in the areas of women’s rights, and reproductive health.
In her documentary, Miss Americana, Swift expressed regret for not speaking out on political matters sooner, telling her father, Scott Swift, that she felt the need “to be on the right side of history.” She also voiced criticism of Donald Trump.
A faction of Swift’s fanbase, known as Swifties, has become politically active during the 2024 election cycle, forming the Swifties for Kamala group online after Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris. This group, which Swift is not officially affiliated with, has raised over $122K and boasts thousands of followers on X. Carly Long, communications director for the group, said, “We believe Harris-Walz will fight for our rights and the rights of our loved ones, and help make this country safer for everyone.”