Pop icon Taylor Swift announced her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the U.S. Presidency, shortly after the conclusion of a heated debate between Harris and her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, on Tuesday night, September 10th. Swift’s declaration comes amid online criticism that she hadn’t made her political stance clear earlier, as the election is now less than 60 days away, with voting already underway.
RELATED: What is Whoopi Goldberg’s salary for ‘The View?’
In an Instagram post on Wednesday morning, Swift shared, “Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. 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.”
Accompanying the post was a photo of Swift with her cat, taken from her TIME cover photoshoot last year. Swift humorously signed off the post with “Childless Cat Lady,” a tongue-in-cheek reference to Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance’s remarks on women who choose not to have children. She also praised Harris for selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, noting his strong stance on LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and women’s reproductive rights.
This endorsement follows months of speculation about Swift’s political leanings. In 2020, she backed the Biden-Harris ticket and publicly criticized Trump for defunding the U.S. Postal Service and for his aggressive rhetoric during racial justice protests. Swift also addressed misleading posts generated by AI, falsely suggesting she supported Trump, emphasizing the importance of transparency and truth in the face of misinformation.
Swift’s endorsement marks a significant moment in her political journey. Although she has traditionally avoided political discussions, she began speaking out in 2018 and has since been a vocal advocate for Democratic policies, women’s rights, reproductive health, and LGBTQ+ rights. In her 2020 documentary “Miss Americana,” Swift expressed regret for not engaging in political discourse sooner, feeling a strong need to “be on the right side of history.”
Swift’s announcement has energized her fan base, with many mobilizing under the “Swifties for Kamala” banner, raising substantial funds for the Harris-Walz campaign. Swift concluded her post by urging her followers to do their own research, make their voices heard, and vote in the upcoming election, emphasizing that “the choice is yours to make.”
As Taylor Swift steps into the political arena once again, her influence as both an artist and activist continues to shape conversations and encourage civic engagement across the country.
