In a move that could have significant implications for the upcoming election, Taylor Swift announced on Tuesday night that she plans to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. This declaration came shortly after the debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump. Swift’s endorsement aims to clear the air following Trump’s recent use of AI-generated images suggesting that Swift might support the Republican ticket.
Swift took to Instagram to clarify her political stance, stating, “I am voting for Harris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.” She emphasized the importance of leadership driven by calm rather than chaos, adding, “We can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”
The Grammy-winning artist expressed her admiration for Harris’s choice of Tim Walz as a running mate. “He has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades,” Swift added, highlighting Walz’s long-standing advocacy.
Swift’s post came weeks after Trump shared AI-generated images on his social media platform, Truth Social, which falsely suggested that Swift endorsed him. One image depicted a group of young women in “Swifties for Trump” shirts, while another showed Swift dressed as Uncle Sam with the caption, “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.” These images, created and circulated by a social media influencer, were re-shared by Trump, who added, “I accept.”
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Swift was deeply disturbed by these images. “It really conjured up my fears around AI and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” she wrote. “It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
Swift, who is 34, urged her followers to conduct their own research. “Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make,” she wrote. “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.”
Her post was accompanied by a photo from her Time magazine “Person of the Year” shoot, where she held her youngest cat, Benjamin Button. She signed off the post with, “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady,” a nod to Republican vice presidential candidate and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who had previously insulted Democratic leaders like Harris as “childless cat ladies.”
As the Chicago Sun-Times reported, Walz learned about Swift’s endorsement while on the air with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. He was visibly moved, pressing his hand to his heart as Maddow read the post aloud. “I am incredibly grateful, first of all, to Taylor Swift,” Walz said. “I say that also as a cat owner, a fellow cat owner. That was eloquent, and it was clear, and that’s the type of courage we need in America.”
Swift’s Pennsylvania roots were also mentioned during the debate, as she grew up between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, is the brother of Jason Kelce, a former center for the Philadelphia Eagles, adding another layer of local interest.
Swift’s call to action has already garnered significant attention, drawing over nine million “likes” on Instagram. Whether this will impact the election remains to be seen, but it certainly adds a new dynamic to the political landscape.