Pop star Taylor Swift disabled comments on her Instagram post endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Swift’s debate night post came after growing enthusiasm for “Swifties for Trump” and increasing backlash over her friendship with a Donald Trump supporter.
“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,” she wrote in her post.
Swift added that “an AI” depicting her “falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run” that was shared on the Republican’s platform reminded her of her “fears around AI” and “the dangers of spreading misinformation.” In order to “combat misinformation,” the singer said she felt obligated “to be very transparent” about her political support.
“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” she continued.
Swift said that Harris “fights for the rights and causes” that the musician believes “need a warrior to champion them.” She did not list specific examples of the Democrat’s policies she supports.
“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.
She also praised Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’s vice-presidential pick, for his advocacy for “LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.” Walz has come under fire for falsely implying he and his wife underwent IVF and that they “wouldn’t have a family” without the fertility treatment. The Walz’s children were later revealed to have been conceived through IUI.
Swift ended her post by calling herself a “Childless Cat Lady” — a reference to comments from Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance — and encouraging her followers to register to vote. She shared a link to vote.gov on her Instagram story.
After the debate, the Harris-Walz campaign began selling 'Harris-Walz' friendship bracelets – indicating possible prior knowledge of Swift's impending endorsement. Fans of the pop singer have traded friendship bracelets at shows since the start of Swift’s Eras Tour in March 2023. Swift just completed the European leg of the tour and will resume performances in October.
The Harris campaign shared Swift’s message in a video on X with the caption “...Ready for it?”
Swift has been publicly criticized for her friendship with Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs player Patrick Mahomes. Brittany Mahomes upset social media users when she liked an Instagram post detailing Trump’s campaign promises. In response to the backlash, Mahomes wrote on her Instagram Story “to be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep-rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood,” per The Cut.
The LGBTQ-focused publication Them published an article on Monday titled “Queer Fans Feel Betrayed by Taylor Swift’s Literal Embrace of Brittany Mahomes” after the women were photographed hugging at the U.S. Open.
“Fans are questioning if Swift is still who she proclaimed herself to be in Miss Americana,” the article stated. “Many LGBTQ+ Taylor Swift fans are feeling betrayed, especially because the singer has styled herself as an ally in public statements, songs, and even music videos.”
President Trump was asked about Swift’s endorsement on Fox and Friends on Wednesday morning.
“I actually like Mrs. Mahomes much better,” he laughed. “I was not a Taylor Swift fan. It was just a matter of time. … She is a very liberal person. She seems to always endorse a Democrat.”
Fans of Swift have proven not to be politically homogenous. Concordia College student Jenna Piwowarczyk created the group “Swifties for Trump,” which has spiked in popularity.
“I think this movement is super awesome and also super important because it's no secret that millions of young female voters consider themselves Swifties and we don't want them to have to choose between loving Taylor Swift and supporting conservative ideologies at the ballot box in November," Piwowarczyk said in a video, per Newsweek.
Elon Musk also chimed in on the online discussion of Swift’s endorsement.
“Fine Taylor … you win … I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life,” he wrote on X.
