After the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, September 10, Grammy-winning singer Taylor Swift made a public endorsement for the Democratic candidate.
With 283 million followers on Instagram, Swift posted that she will be voting for Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election. The 34-year-old singer expressed her support for Harris, citing her advocacy for rights and causes that Swift believes in.
Describing Harris as a composed and talented leader, Swift stated her belief that the country would achieve greater success with leaders who are calm rather than chaotic in charge.
Swift also praised Harris’ choice of Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, as her running mate, saying she was energized and impressed by the decision.
The singer emphasized the importance of conducting one’s own research and making informed choices when it comes to voting, noting that personal research and decisions are crucial.
Accompanying her statement was a picture of Swift holding a cat, with her signature sign-off that humorously references a remark made by JD Vance, Trump’s running mate in a 2021 Senate campaign in Ohio.
Vance had previously made a comment insinuating that the country was being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable in their own lives and so they want the rest of the country to be miserable too.” He later clarified that his comment was meant as a metaphor, highlighting how having children can change one’s perspective profoundly.
Following the televised presidential debate, Tim Walz, the Vice Presidential candidate, expressed immense gratitude for Swift’s support, acknowledging her endorsement.
Walz, who shares Swift’s affinity for cats, commended her endorsement as persuasive and courageous, noting the importance of individuals speaking out in the United States.
In the 2020 election, Swift endorsed President Joe Biden and allowed the Biden-Harris campaign team to use her song “Only the Young” in their advertisements that year.
Swift explained that she publicly endorsed Harris due to fake news circulating on Trump’s website, falsely claiming she had endorsed Trump through artificial intelligence-generated content.
Expressing her concerns about the dangers of misinformation and AI, Swift emphasized the need for transparency in her political stance and highlighted the importance of speaking the truth as a voter.
In conclusion, Swift reminded voters, especially first-time voters, to register before casting their ballots, emphasizing the significance of voter registration in ensuring participation in the democratic process.