Artists Split on Their Views of Trump and Kamala Harris

As the US presidential election approaches, celebrity endorsements have emerged as a powerful influence, shaping public opinion and driving voter enthusiasm for the right to vote.

The 2024 US election is a contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Many influential celebrities have voiced their support for the potential president, amplifying each side’s message and setting the stage for one of the most star-studded political contests in modern history.

With their own political views, American celebrities are going through a period of deep division, even not hesitating to attack each other.

Phe Donald Trump

One of Trump’s most prominent supporters is billionaire Elon Musk. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX not only shares his political views on social media, but also spends money on Trump’s campaign.

Elon Musk is said to have donated more than $119 million to the former US President’s campaign, and has pledged to give $1 million a day to people who endorse his petition on free speech and gun rights.

In July, Elon Musk posted a photo with Trump, calling him “the toughest candidate since Theodore Roosevelt.”

It can be said that Elon Musk is the most prominent influential figure supporting Mr. Trump to be elected President of the United States. Photo: Getty Images.

Shazam! star Zachary Levi has not given up on supporting Mr. Trump. He praised the billionaire born in 1946 as the only candidate capable of restoring America. Levi initially supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but the politician later dropped out of the race and switched to supporting Mr. Trump.

Rock musician Kid Rock has openly supported Trump and has been a regular at the former US President’s rallies. At the Republican National Convention (RNC), Rock performed and rallied the crowd, urging them to “fight, fight.” After the failed assassination attempt on Mr. Trump, Rock posted a video linking himself to Trump’s followers, declaring that opposing Mr. Trump meant opposing the 53-year-old artist.

Former wrestling icon Hulk Hogan also attended the RNC in July, where he ripped off his shirt and declared: “Run like crazy, let Trump fever reign again.” He also expressed his frustration with recent events in the US, emphasizing that “we can no longer be silent” at a crucial moment for the country.

The moment wrestling icon Hulk Hogan ripped his shirt off at the Republican National Convention in July. Photo: Getty Images.

Another star who made a big impression at the RNC was model and rapper Amber Rose, who said she believes in the vision and community created by Mr. Trump.

Former basketball star Brett Favre, who voted for Trump in 2020, is sticking by his choice in the upcoming election. He has appeared in a television ad for the Trump campaign, encouraging Americans to choose a strong leader who can protect their families and restore world peace.

Comedian Roseanne Barr has also been highly sympathetic to Mr Trump’s goals, gaining attention by releasing satirical videos criticising current US President Joe Biden.

Kamala Harris

Compared to Mr. Trump, the list of celebrities who chose Ms. Harris is longer and more “quality”. Most of them are leaders in their fields, with a large fan base, including Taylor Swift , Beyoncé, Eminem, Oprah Winfrey…

At Kamala Harris’ campaign rally in Houston, Texas, USA on the evening of October 25, Beyoncé stirred the atmosphere by calling on voters to vote not only as a celebrity, but also as a mother invested in creating a world without division. She also joined her colleague Kelly Rowland to introduce Ms. Harris as the next president of the United States.

Beyoncé gets close to Ms. Harris at a campaign rally in Houston. Photo: NYTimes.

With a long history of criticizing Donald Trump, it’s no surprise that Eminem is backing Harris. Like Beyoncé, the hip-hop king attended the Vice President’s campaign event (in Detroit, Michigan, on October 22) to encourage young voters to vote. The Rap God hitmaker even invited former President Barack Obama on stage to energize the crowd.

The person with the most bad luck with Mr. Trump is certainly none other than Taylor Swift. The beauty born in 1989 had no intention of expressing her political views publicly. However, Mr. Trump’s use of a fake AI image of her and Swifties (the female singer’s fans) forced the pop superstar to clarify her stance.

In an Instagram post in September, Taylor not only declared her support for Harris in the election, but also criticized Trump for contributing to the spread of fake news on social media.

Two other stars who have feuded with Mr Trump are the Foo Fighters and Bruce Springsteen. The rock legends have both publicly denounced Mr Trump. The Foo Fighters have condemned the US billionaire’s unauthorized use of their song My Hero , pledging that all royalties from the case will go to Ms Harris’ campaign. Meanwhile, Springsteen has described Mr Trump as “the most dangerous candidate of my lifetime”, expressing his belief in Ms Harris’ vision of an inclusive America.

Unlike most artists, John Legend has been a longtime supporter of Harris. The singer raised funds for her Senate campaign and was a headliner at the Democratic National Convention.

John Legend and Taylor Swift have both publicly supported Ms. Harris. Photo: Shutterstock/Getty Images.

Also appearing at the DNC, American media queen Oprah Winfrey gave a passionate speech in support of Harris, calling the 2024 election a fight for “decency and respect.” Her message resonated as she emphasized Harris’ vision of inclusive American leadership.

The list of celebrities publicly supporting Ms. Harris also includes Leonardo Dicaprio, Cher, Usher, Lizzo, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, George Clooney, Cynthia Nixon…

The “starry” political divide

Ahead of Election Day (November 5), the 2024 campaign has become a battleground not only for politicians, but also for celebrities.

Each uses their influence to mobilize and inspire. Celebrity endorsements bring greater visibility and enthusiasm to both campaigns. They tap into the deep pockets of millions of followers that celebrities possess, and their fan base cuts across political lines.

With stars from every corner of the entertainment industry speaking out, the election evolved into a cultural moment, as much about celebrity influence as it was about political policy.

The power of celebrities in the election shows the powerful combination of celebrities and politics in an era when trust in traditional institutions is low. It also shows that celebrity-led campaigns continue to reach voters in unique and impactful ways.

The 2024 US election is not only a confrontation between Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris, but also between celebrities with different political views.

Besides, celebrities do not hesitate to confront each other to protect the candidate they choose.

A day after Beyoncé attended Harris’s rally, Amber Rose made headlines with a post accusing the singer of copying her speech at the RNC three months earlier. A notable similarity between Beyoncé and Rose’s speeches was that both addressed the importance of motherhood and how it influenced their voting decisions.

Previously, in September, Elon Musk also made a similar move with Taylor Swift when the singer chose Ms. Harris and her deputy Tim Walz. However, the American billionaire’s statement was criticized as rude and offensive.

“Okay Taylor, you win. I will give you a child and protect your cats with my life,” Elon Musk wrote on X on September 11.

Although controversial, Amber Rose and Elon Musk’s actions are a clear demonstration of the political divide in the celebrity world.

Whether these endorsements have an impact on undecided voters remains to be seen, but their role in driving participation and shaping public opinion is undeniable.