Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors
For every Taylor Swift fan who is lauding her endorsement of Kamala Harris, there are those who are still skeptical — particularly after the singer’s headline-making hang with alleged Trump supporter Brittany Mahomes.
To be fair, there are thousands (and thousands) of Swifties who are not only thrilled with Swift’s endorsement, but who are calling the timing of her public announcement — immediately after Harris’ debate against Trump on Tuesday, September 10 — everything from a “masterclass in PR” to deserving of a Grammy. Others praised it as “ruthless” and “brutal.”
One even wrote, “The timing of that T swift endorsement was masterful. Waited until [Harris] absolutely washed [Trump], and then Taylor comes out of the tunnel like the undertaker lol.”
Others attempted to get ahead of the narrative and claimed that “anyone who thinks that taylor’s endorsement was due to controversy and not meticulously planned and scheduled is… very silly,” they penned via X (formerly known as Twitter). “taylor has never caved to public pressure (even when she maybe should). her timing is politically intelligent and consistent with her 2020 endorsement.”
There are still dozens of others, however, who are questioning Swift’s words versus her actions.
“taylor’s statement is great but it doesn’t really address why she’s hanging around trumpies. it just feels like very lukewarm solidarity which is disappointing but not surprising coming from her,” one fan opined. “i love her so deeply as an artist so i’m just stressed because her behavior from the last few days does not line up with that statement at all.”
“she endorsed kamala but still hangs around trumpies imo good for her that she voiced her vote but actions speak louder than words,” another person wrote.
“taylor it’s still weird you’re hanging out with trumpies though babe like if those issues mattered so much to you you’d not choose to be around people who are against them,” a third user said.
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
“lol @ Taylor Swift finally endorsing Harris/Walz AFTER a weekend spent cozying up with Tr*mp supporters. Timing is almost too comical,” wrote someone else.
Another person quipped that the timing of Swift’s endorsement — coming after millions of fans begged her to speak out against Trump and in support of Harris — was an attempt to save face. “PR clean up on aisle 9,” they tweeted.
Still, one Swiftie pointed out that the fans’ months-long campaign to get the Grammy winner to voice her political views ultimately paid off.
“getting Taylor speaking up was the whole point. none of us should feel sorry for calling her out for hanging out with Trumpies and none of us should be embarrassed,” they wrote. “if anything, I’m happy that there’s ppl actually stay sane enough to call her out.”
The praise for Swift’s fandom, in fact, was palpable. “NEVER underestimate the power of the Swifties,” another user penned.
In her endorsement of Harris, Swift revealed that it was Trump’s fake AI post of her in August — in which it falsely appeared that the singer-songwriter was endorsing him — that “brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” she wrote in her lengthy Instagram statement on Tuesday night. “The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” the “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” artist wrote. “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.”
Swift signed off the endorsement as a “Childless Cat Lady” — a clear reference to Trump’s VP pick J.D. Vance, who infamously once decried the prevalence of “childless cat ladies” as contributing to the downfall of society.
