Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris for President Following ABC News Debate, Calls Her a ‘Steady-Handed, Gifted Leader’ — Read Statement

Ryan Schwartz
·4 min read
13

Vice President Kamala Harris just received the ultimate endorsement.

Minutes after the conclusion of Tuesday’s presidential debate, hosted on ABC and simulcast on every major news network, Taylor Swift took to Instagram to formally endorse former President Donald Trump’s opponent.

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What follows is Swift’s full statement, which she shared with her 283 million Instagram followers:

Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. 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.

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

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.

I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story.

With love and hope,

Taylor Swift
Childless Cat Lady

Instagram

Watch MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow break the news of Swift’s endorsement to Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, live on-air:

Minutes later, Jon Stewart addressed the Swift endorsement during a live edition of The Daily Show. “I have some breaking news,” the Comedy Central host informed his viewers following his return from commercial. “We talked earlier about these debates — Do they mean anything? Do they even do anything? Apparently, they did move the needle enough for one undecided voter: a Ms. Taylor Swift has endorsed Kamala Harris.” After his studio audience cheered in response, he added: “You know what this means? Taylor Swift and I were watching TV at the same time!”

Over on CBS, Late Show host Stephen Colbert declared that Harris gave “one of the best debate performances I have ever seen, and there is nothing — absolutely nothing — that could have made tonight any better.”

Then came Swift’s endorsement.

“I stand corrected,” he said.

<cite>Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy</cite>
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Tuesday’s debate ran for more than 90 minutes, with two commercial breaks. There were no opening statements. Harris and Trump had two minutes to answer each question, with two additional minutes allowed for rebuttals and an extra minute for follow-ups. Each candidate’s microphone was muted when the other candidate spoke, and they were not permitted to ask each other questions.

David Muir and Linsey Davis moderated the audience-free spectacle from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where they sought to ensure a civilized discussion. No topics or questions were shared with the candidates beforehand, and no props or pre-written notes were allowed on stage.

After a coin flip to decide, Trump chose to deliver the last closing statement. You can weigh in on Trump and Harris’ respective performances here.

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