Taylor Swift finally wades into US election following fan anguish

Taylor Swift has finally waded into the biggest story in the United States as her diehard fanbase began spiralling over her silence.

Taylor Swift has finally broken her silence in the lead up to the US election.

Following Tuesday’s debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, Swift took to Instagram with a lengthy post endorsing Ms Harris for president of the United States come November.

“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight,” Swift began her post, which ticked over one million likes in just 13 minutes.

“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. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.”

Taylor Swift has endorsed Kamala Harris for US president. Picture: ANDRE DIAS NOBRE / AFP

Swift, who shared the statement alongside a photo of herself with her cat from her December TIME cover, continued, “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.

“I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris with former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during the presidential debate. Picture: SAUL LOEB / AFP

Swift’s declaration comes after her fanbase became increasingly concerned over her silence with just two months until the election, which takes place November 5.

Her left-leaning supporters’ fears boiled over in recent days after the pop star was seen embracing NFL WAG Brittany Mahomes at the US Open at the weekend. Mahomes, who is the wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, raised questions about her political stance when she liked - then unliked - an Instagram post shared by Mr Trump in August.

However, Swift put any unrest to bed with her post, where she also addressed Mr Trump’s recent sharing of an AI image that suggested the singer had endorsed him for president.

Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes at the US Open at the weekend. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

“Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site,” Swift wrote.

“It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. 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 finished her post with a cheeky dig at Mr Trump’s running mate JD Vance, who recently came under fire from US actress Jennifer Aniston for resurfaced comments he made about Ms Harris being a “childless cat lady.”

The singer signed off her post with, “Taylor Swift. Childless Cat Lady.”

Mr Vance had told Fox News in 2021 the US was being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”

It’s clear conversations between the pop star’s team and those working on the Harris campaign have been going on behind the scenes prior to Swift’s public endorsement, with Ms Harris’ official website now marketing friendship bracelets.

“Are you ready for it? Harris-Walz friendship bracelets are here!,” a description reads.

Swift made friendship bracelets a must-have accessory at her Eras Tour concerts around the world, with fans exchanging and sharing bracelets at her shows in a nod to the lyrics of the star’s popular 2022 song, You’re On Your Own Kid.

The Harris campaign is now selling Swift-inspired friendship bracelets.

Swift’s endorsement is monumental for the Harris campaign. Aside from boasting 283 million followers on Instagram alone, the megastar is inarguably one of the most influential figures on the planet.

The 34-year-old was famously apolitical at the beginning of her career until she made the decision to speak out after Mr Trump was elected president in 2016.

She sensationally endorsed Democratic candidates Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper in the 2018 US midterm elections in her home state of Tennessee, a move which was heavily publicised and later chronicled in her 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana.

Commentators and analysts have extensively reported on the immensity of Swift’s fame giving her unique political leverage, with the singer capable of having an impact unlike any other pop culture figure.

Swift joins a flurry of celebrity supporters of Ms Harris, including George Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Matt Damon, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Olivia Rodrigo.

Beyonce is also understood to be backing Ms Harris, after granting permission for the Harris campaign to use her song Freedom in a video.

In Mr Trump’s camp, he boasts Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock, Dana White, Elon Musk and Roseanne Barr among his high-profile backers.

Originally published as Taylor Swift finally wades into US election following fan anguish