Array
Given the platforms celebrities have, they have the power to encourage and influence their audience to think the same way they do. For the 2024 United States presidential elections, these popular figures express support to candidates in the hope that their supporters will be encouraged to believe the same way.
lister endorsements for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump reflect significant contrasts in political values and public influence.
Celebrities backing Harris, such as pop star Taylor Swift and three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep, emphasize importance to issues of social justice and reproductive rights, appealing to progressive and younger voters.
The incumbent Vice President’s campaign also appeal to the audience in need of historical progress; considering if Harris won, she would make history as the first female president and the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to hold the highest office in the U.S.
Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters, including actor Mel Gibson and socialite Kim Kardashian, often champion economic and national security priorities, which resonates with conservative audiences.
However, the former president has been a center of controversies over the years, given his previous actions; for instance, in 2021, Trump incited a large gathering of supporters in Washington to attack the US Capitol while the electoral votes were being counted.
These endorsements highlight a cultural and ideological divide, affirming how celebrities contribute to shaping public opinion and political discourse as well as mobilizing and inspiring voter engagement.
Ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5, here are the celebrities who voiced their support for Harris and Trump.
The global pop star was one of the first A-listers to voice out her support for Harris. On Instagram, Swift penned her endorsement and noted that it was partially prompted by Trump, who posted AI-generated pictures suggesting that the singer had endorsed him.
Trump’s posts “brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” Swift wrote last September. She added that she’s voting for Harris because “she’s done her research,” and the latter fights for LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights, among others.
The former “Destiny’s Child” star appeared onstage during the presidential rally of Harris in Texas on Oct. 26, declaring that she was not there “as a celebrity or politician but a mother.”
“A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in—a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided. Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations. We must vote, and we need you,” she told the crowd.
The 21-year-old Filipino-American singer has already cast her vote for Harris during the early voting that has started in some states. In a statement on Nov. 3, she said, “A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for a national abortion ban and a vote for Kamala Harris is a vote for reproductive freedom. Please use your voice and vote!”
Rodrigo first endorsed Harris in July after she posted a video of Harris’ speech on “pledging to reinstate reproductive rights” as part of her platform.
