Taylor Swift has announced her support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election, revealing her decision on social media just after the debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump.

In an Instagram post made after the debate, Swift shared a picture of herself with her cat, stating, “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

She continued, “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she champions the rights and causes that I believe deserve a strong advocate. She is a calm and talented leader, and I think we can achieve so much more under her steady guidance rather than in chaos. I was thrilled to see her pick @timwalz as her running mate, someone who has long advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and women’s bodily autonomy,” she expressed.

Swift made her endorsement less than an hour after the debate ended and also encouraged her fans to register to vote.

Throughout her 18-year career, Swift has publicly supported only three candidates, including Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential race.

Anticipation was high for Swift’s endorsement in the 2024 election since her influence extends to a large fan base. With over 283 million Instagram followers, she has previously rallied her audience for voter registration efforts. In fall 2023, she successfully helped register over 30,000 voters in just one day—an impactful number considering that close results in swing states in 2020 were often within that margin.

“We’re really excited about Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. As we have said since we started Swifties For Kamala, we’ve always been confident that she would endorse at the right moment, and we look forward to the momentum she brings to this campaign,” said Irene Kim, co-founder and executive director of Swifties For Kamala, shortly after Swift’s announcement.

The pop star’s fame appears to be on the rise. She is approaching the conclusion of her record-breaking Eras Tour — the most lucrative tour ever — has added two more Grammys to her collection, totaling 14, was named Time magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year, released the hit album “The Tortured Poets Department,” and her concert film from the Eras Tour has become the highest-grossing concert film of all time.

Speculation surrounded Swift possibly making an appearance at the Democratic National Convention, where several celebrities, including Oprah, The Chicks, Pink, Mindy Kaling, and John Legend, also endorsed Harris.

Her endorsement covered a range of topics, including IVF and LGBTQ+ rights. Within an hour of her post, it garnered over 3 million likes, with reactions from well-known figures such as Chrissy Teigen and Olympic soccer player Rose Lavelle.

“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, it’s a good opportunity to research the issues and the candidates’ positions on the topics that are significant to you. As a responsible voter, I make it a point to learn about their proposed policies and plans for our country,” Swift remarked.

“I also want to clarify that I recently discovered that AI-generated content falsely displaying me endorsing Donald Trump’s campaign was shared on his site,” Swift noted, addressing Trump’s use of artificial intelligence to create misleading posts that suggested her support for him, despite her past criticisms of the Republican nominee.

“This raised concerns for me about the dangers of AI and misinformation. I realized I need to be clear about my actual intentions for this election. The best way to fight misinformation is with accurate information,” she added.

After the debate, Trump appeared in the spin room and was asked about Swift’s backing of Harris. He responded, “I have no idea.”

Swift, known for motivating people to register to vote in previous elections, seems likely to continue this effort.

“I’ve done my homework and made my choice. Now it’s your turn to research and decide. I especially want to remind first-time voters: You need to be registered to vote! I find that voting early is much simpler. I’ll share links for registration and early voting information in my story,” she advised. Her Instagram story included a link to vote.gov for those needing to register or update their voter information.

She concluded her message with “With love and hope, Taylor Swift,” adding “Childless Cat Lady” in a witty response to comments made by Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, who had previously faced backlash for labeling women without children as “childless cat ladies” in a resurfaced 2021 interview, targeting figures like Harris. direct stake” in America.

The Growth of Taylor Swift’s Political Voice

Back in 2012, Taylor Swift explained to Norwegian journalist Fredrik Skavlan her hesitation about expressing political views. She stated, “I’m just a 22-year-old singer and I’m not sure if people want to hear my political opinions.” The audience reacted with laughter, and the conversation shifted.

During the 2016 presidential race between Trump and Hillary Clinton, she remained silent. However, in 2018, she publicly supported U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen, along with U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper for his re-election campaign in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, and also backed Biden in the 2020 presidential elections.

In her 2020 documentary “Miss Americana,” Swift opened up about her decision to speak out. When her publicist cautioned her about potential backlash from Trump, she responded, “I don’t care. If I receive negative press for saying, ‘Don’t put a homophobic racist in office,’ then so be it.”

Throughout 2020, she was particularly active on social media, especially on X, previously known as Twitter, where she shared numerous tweets critical of Trump and retweeted messages in support of Harris.

She even baked cookies decorated with “Biden 2020” frosting and discussed the importance of speaking up in an interview with V Magazine.

She expressed, “The most crucial change we need is to elect a president who understands that people of color should feel safe and represented; that women should have the right to choose what happens to their bodies; and that the LGBTQIA+ community deserves acknowledgment and inclusion.” She declared her support for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, believing their leadership could initiate the necessary healing process in America.

What Impact Could Taylor Swift’s Endorsement Have?

Taylor Swift wields significant influence over her diverse fan base, which she continuously encourages to register and vote. Notably, in the fall of 2023, she aided in registering over 30,000 voters in a single day, a number that could be crucial in close swing state elections.

Nancy Gibbs, the Edward R. Murrow Professor at Harvard University, commented, “She possesses great potential to convey messages, including endorsements, that could resonate significantly with voters sought by both parties. Influence isn’t pure power; it’s more about trust than force, more of a talent than a simple tool. She has proven her ability to use it effectively and wisely.”

Swift has nine upcoming shows in the U.S.: three in Miami, three in New Orleans, and three in Indianapolis. Her final performance in Indianapolis occurs on Nov. 3, just two days prior to the election.

Read Taylor Swift’s Complete Statement Endorsing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz

“Like many of you, I observed the debate tonight. If you haven’t done so already, now is a perfect time to research the relevant issues and the candidates’ stances on what matters most to you. As a voter, I ensure I watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for our nation.”

“I was recently made aware that an AI-generated version of me falsely endorsing Donald Trump was posted on his site. It heightened my anxieties about AI and misinformation. This led me to the conclusion that I must be forthcoming about my voting intentions. The most straightforward method to counter misinformation is through truth.”

I will be voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I support @kamalaharris because she champions the rights and issues that matter to me. I believe she is a calm, gifted leader, and we can achieve so much more under her guidance rather than chaos. I was also uplifted by her choice of running mate, @timwalz, who has fought for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and women’s autonomy for many years.

I’ve conducted my research and made my decision. Now it’s your turn to do yours. And for first-time voters: Remember, you need to be registered to vote! I find it’s often easier to vote early. I will share links for registration and early voting information in my story.

With love and hope,

Taylor SwiftChildless Cat Lady

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Contributing: Laura Trujillo, Taijuan Moorman, Maya Homan