Taylor Swift endorses Harris in post signed ‘Childless Cat Lady’

Moments after the intense presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, pop sensation Taylor Swift took to Instagram to announce her endorsement of Harris for the 2024 presidential race. Swift’s endorsement came with a twist, as the post was signed “Childless Cat Lady,” a playful jab referencing remarks made by Trump’s running mate, JD Vance.

In her Instagram post, Swift shared her support for Harris, stating, “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.” She praised Harris as a “steady-handed, gifted leader” and emphasized the need for “calm and not chaos” in the country’s leadership. Swift’s message was accompanied by a photo of her with a cat, linking back to the “Childless Cat Lady” moniker.

The term “Childless Cat Lady” was originally used by JD Vance, the Ohio senator and Trump’s vice-presidential candidate. In 2021, Vance faced criticism for calling several prominent Democrats, including Harris, “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives.” Vance later claimed his comments were made in sarcasm.

Swift’s post also included a nod to Harris’s vice-presidential pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who Swift commended for his long-standing advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and women’s reproductive rights. Swift expressed that these values influenced her decision to publicly endorse Harris.

The singer’s endorsement was partly spurred by an AI-generated image falsely portraying her as endorsing Trump, which appeared on his website. This incident heightened Swift’s concerns about the dangers of misinformation and artificial intelligence, prompting her to clarify her actual voting intentions. “It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” she said. “It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter.”

Trump’s campaign embraced the fake images, which led to backlash from Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, who accused Trump of disseminating misinformation.

Swift’s endorsement of Harris adds to a growing list of celebrity supporters for the vice-president, including singers John Legend and Olivia Rodrigo, actor George Clooney, and director Spike Lee. On the flip side, Trump has garnered endorsements from former wrestler Hulk Hogan, TV personality Amber Rose, and billionaire Elon Musk.

Swift’s intervention came in the wake of a dramatic 90-minute debate where Harris and Trump clashed over key issues such as abortion rights, the economy, and immigration. Swift’s endorsement is not an isolated case; she previously supported President Joe Biden and Harris in the 2020 election. She also voiced strong criticism of Trump during his presidency, particularly following the protests over the police killing of George Floyd. In a tweet, Swift condemned Trump for his handling of race issues and vowed to vote him out of office.

Despite Swift’s influential platform and her past endorsements, some political analysts suggest her latest endorsement may not significantly sway the electorate. Lauren Rosewarne, a professor at the University of Melbourne who studies media and politics, noted that while Swift’s endorsement could boost voter registration, her influence may be limited given her fan base largely aligns with Harris’s existing support among young, female voters.

Swift, who boasts 283 million followers on Instagram, saw her endorsement post receive over 4.5 million likes within three hours of its release. In her message, she encouraged first-time voters to register and promised to share further voting information on her social media. “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice,” Swift stated. “Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.”

This latest endorsement reaffirms Swift’s active role in political discourse and underscores the growing intersection between celebrity influence and electoral politics.