WASHINGTON D.C. Global music sensation Taylor Swift has thrown her support behind Kamala Harris for president, in a post-debate endorsement that has sent shockwaves across social media. Swift, known for her massive influence among younger voters, made her announcement late Tuesday through Instagram, expressing her admiration for Harris as a leader who embodies “calm and not chaos.”
“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 wrote, attaching a link to a voter registration website. The post, which featured Swift holding her cat Benjamin Button, quickly garnered more than 2.3 million likes within 30 minutes of going live. She ended the post humorously, signing off as “Childless Cat Lady,” a pointed jab referencing a controversial 2021 comment made by JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, about women without children having less of a stake in the nation’s future.
Swift’s endorsement comes at a critical moment for Harris, who is vying for broader voter support in the lead-up to November’s presidential election. Known for her wide-reaching appeal, especially among young women—a demographic seen as pivotal to the election—Swift’s voice could potentially sway the opinions of millions.
The endorsement, according to Harris’ campaign team, was not planned in advance. In fact, Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, appeared to learn about Swift’s post while being interviewed live on MSNBC. As Rachel Maddow read Swift’s statement on-air, Walz smiled and placed his hand on his chest, remarking, “That was eloquent. And it was clear. And that’s the kind of courage we need in America to stand up.”
Swift revealed that part of her decision to publicly back Harris stemmed from frustration over AI-generated images shared by Trump, falsely suggesting that she had endorsed him. In one widely circulated image, Swift is depicted dressed as Uncle Sam, with the slogan “Taylor wants YOU to VOTE for DONALD TRUMP.” The misleading posts led Swift to clarify her stance on the upcoming election.
“These posts brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” Swift explained in her post. “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice.”
Trump responded to Swift’s announcement on Fox & Friends, saying, “It was just a question of time. She’s a very liberal person, and she always seems to endorse a Democrat. She’ll probably pay a price in the marketplace.”
Swift, no stranger to politics, has been vocal about her political views in recent years. In 2020, she endorsed Joe Biden and celebrated Harris’ debate performance against then-Vice President Mike Pence. Her previous critiques of Trump were particularly harsh, accusing him of stoking “the fires of white supremacy and racism.”
Swift’s endorsement is particularly influential among Democrats. A Fox News poll in October 2023 found that 68% of Democrats held a favorable view of her, while Republicans were more divided—43% viewing her positively and 45% unfavorably. Swift’s political engagement first made headlines in 2018 when she endorsed Tennessee Democrat Phil Bredesen for Senate, an endorsement that revealed a partisan divide even then.
While Harris’ campaign has yet to confirm any future collaboration with Swift, the singer’s endorsement is already seen as a powerful boost to the Harris-Walz ticket.
Taylor Swift is currently leading the nominees at the MTV Video Music Awards, which will take place on Wednesday, a day later than originally planned to accommodate the presidential debate. It remains unclear if Swift will attend the event, but there is speculation that she may use her platform during any acceptance speeches to further elaborate on her political endorsement.
MTV has a long history of encouraging youth voter participation, and with Swift now firmly in Harris’ corner, her influence could extend far beyond the music world.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
