Global Pop Star with 283 Million Followers
Posts Photo Holding Cat, Targeting Trump and Pence
What the US Republican Party and former President Donald Trump feared has happened. The global pop star Taylor Swift has finally spoken out.
On the 10th (local time), right after the US presidential debate ended, Swift posted on her Instagram, "I will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election," adding, "I believe she is a warrior who fights for rights and causes, a calm and talented leader, and can lead the country with composure rather than chaos alongside us."
Swift also continued with pointed remarks against former President Trump. She said, "I found out that a manipulated deepfake, making it look like I support Donald Trump's presidential run, is being spread on his social media," explaining the background of her support statement by saying, "This made me realize the fear of artificial intelligence (AI) and the dangers of misinformation, and I concluded that I must transparently disclose my actual plans as a voter for this election." Earlier, former President Trump stirred controversy by posting a fake photo on Truth Social claiming he had the support of Swift and her fandom 'Swifties'.
Swift emphasized, "Like many others, I watched the debate tonight," adding, "If anyone hasn't watched it yet, this is a good opportunity to investigate the candidates' positions on the issues we face and important topics." Posting a photo holding her cat, Swift ended her message with the signature 'Childless Cat Lady,' taking a jab at Senator JD Vance, former President Trump's running mate.
This is not the first time Swift has publicly expressed support for a presidential candidate. She also supported President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris in the 2020 election. A Harris campaign official said, "Swift's support is remarkable," and predicted that her endorsement would play a "decisive role" in Vice President Harris's election.
Given that this is a public endorsement from a globally popular pop star, it is expected to have significant impact. Swift's Instagram followers exceed 283 million. According to an NBC News poll last year, 40% of registered voters had a positive view of Swift, while only 16% held a negative view. At one point, conspiracy theories spread mainly among Republican and conservative media that Swift was a secret agent helping President Biden's re-election, reflecting concerns about Swift's influence.
The Guardian reported, "In 2012, researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Maryland investigated the correlation between celebrity endorsements and voting," noting, "Before the 2008 Democratic primary, Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of former President Barack Obama was estimated to be worth about one million votes."
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