Taylor Swift, the self-proclaimed “childless cat lady,” has backed Kamala Harris for President of the United States.
The global megastar broke her silence on the present state of US politics on Tuesday, endorsing Harris over Donald Trump for the presidency and describing the Democratic contender as a “steady-handed, gifted leader.”
“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Swift, among the biggest names on the planet, posted on Instagram.
She did so in the minutes following a televised presidential debate that saw the candidates face off for the first time, which the singer said she tuned in to.
“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.”
She ended her Instagram post by calling herself a “childless cat lady,” a reference to a widely criticized statement voiced by Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance in an attempt to denigrate Democratic women.
Until Tuesday, Swift had been noticeably silent on the subject of the 2024 election, despite the fact that many of her admirers began organizing under the banner “Swifties for Kamala” and raising more than $150,000 for the Democratic candidate.
However, the 34-year-old said that discovering AI-generated images of her fraudulently backing Trump — which “conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” she added — motivated her to speak out.
“It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” she said. “The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
She encouraged her legions of loyal fans to “do your research.”
Swift, fresh off the European leg of her blockbuster “Eras” tour, balked at explicitly telling her ardent supporters to vote Harris, instead saying “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.”
She also shared the post to her Instagram “stories” with a voter registration link.
The artist voiced special support for Harris’s choice of a running mate, Tim Walz, praising the Minnesota governor for “standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”
Team Harris has been quick to latch on to any boost she can get from the pop world, which generally skews left, and a number of stars have publicly backed her.
Beyonce has not outright endorsed the Democrat but she allowed the Harris camp to use her song “Freedom” in advertisements and on the campaign trail.
And British artist Charli XCX saw her smash album “brat” become core to the early online Harris campaign, as the Democrats vie to stay current on social media’s pulse.
‘With love and hope’
But until now, Swift hadn’t chimed in.
Swift is a global celebrity with hundreds of millions of social media followers and a devoted — and chronically online — fan base. Her impact is huge, and her approval is sought after.
The “Blank Space” singer has remained apolitical, even after Donald Trump’s election in 2016.
In 2018, the celebrity ended speculation that she was a covert Republican by endorsing the Democratic candidate against far-right politician Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee.
Although Blackburn triumphed, it marked a new beginning for Swift.
She later said that her handlers had warned her against expressing political beliefs because it could harm her career, particularly in the country music industry, which, despite its intricacies, is frequently associated with conservatism.
Swift endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and has promoted LGBTQ rights through her music and videos.
She also denounced the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the federal right to abortion and pushed a large number of her supporters to register to vote.
However, Swift’s immense popularity has made her a frequent target for political misinformation and right-wing conspiracy theories, which are frequently fueled by AI and reinforced by figures such as Trump.
Speaking out on her own terms captivated the news cycle within seconds of going live Tuesday night, with her post receiving over two million “likes” in only 30 minutes.
“With love and hope, Taylor Swift,” she concluded her message.