As election day approaches, many celebrities have come forward to endorse either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
While Trump has the backing of Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan and Elon Musk, Harris has the support of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish.
You may wonder why there’s a crossover between pop stars and politics, and if these endorsements actually have the power to influence the outcome of the election.
Celebrities endorsing political figures isn’t a new concept. In fact, celebrity endorsements have dated back to the early 20th century and have been around ever since — examples include Frank Sinatra endorsing John F. Kennedy and Oprah endorsing Barack Obama.
However, the development of social media has rapidly increased the power of influence that these public figures hold. With the strong divide between these two candidates, many celebrities have been encouraged to pick a side. As far number of endorsements and status, Harris seems to have the upper hand.
Minutes after the first presidential debate, Taylor Swift released a statement supporting Kamala Harris — this was considered a win for the Harris campaign. In a post on Instagram that now has 11.3 million likes, Swift praises both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for their views on LGBTQ+ rights, IVF and abortion. She encouraged her followers to do their own research and register to vote. Within 24 hours of her announcement, more than 337,000 people visited the vote.gov link she shared with her Instagram followers.
This prompted the creation of “Swifties for Kamala” groups across social media platforms. Taylor Swift superfans came together and raised up to $150,000 for the Harris campaign. Trump seemingly replied to Swift’s endorsement by posting “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” on his platform Truth Social.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has been consistently endorsing Trump on X, while quietly contributing $75 million in donations to his campaign. He also spoke at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania, stating that Trump is the “only candidate to preserve democracy in America.”
Trump has used this endorsement to his advantage, joining Musk for a public conversation on X, which focused on the July assassination attempt, illegal immigration and his plans to cut government regulations. It seems that Elon Musk has become a key contributor and spokesperson for the Republican campaign.
Trump has also appealed to the likes of younger voters, making appearances on Twitch streams, podcasts and inviting Tik Toker’s to speak at his rallies.
A study conducted by Harvard found that these celebrity endorsements do more than create online buzz — they may actually influence the outcome of the election. The study said that in terms of shifting this culture, celebrities are “uniquely positioned to empower everyday Americans.” Online voter registration and poll volunteer rates both increased when a celebrity promoted them.
Celebrities and pop culture seem to have more influence over elections than many of us realize. You can find this either discouraging or beneficial, but either way, it’s why you should get out and vote. Make your voice heard in this election. Early voting ends on Nov. 3, and general election polls take place on Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit vote.org to locate your local polling place.
