As the November presidential election nears, celebrities, politicians and brands alike are using their platforms to add their two cents and attempt to influence voters.
Singer and actress Barbara Steisand as well as talk-show host Oprah Winfrey both demonstrated their support of the Harris-Walz campaign. Streisand participated in a Jewish Women for Harris call, praising the former vice president on her position regarding reproductive rights. Winfrey advocated for Harris at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and cooperated with her on an event designated to garner support for the Harris-Walz campaign entitled Unite for America on Sept. 19.
Students say that endorsements like these carry weight. “I do think that presidential endorsements influence voters. They can often sway the public’s opinion by adding or even taking away from the credibility of a certain candidate,” senior Nibras Hassan said.
After the first presidential debate, Taylor Swift announced her support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in her Sept. 10 Instagram post, playing on Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance’s childless cat lady comment. The famous songwriter wrote, ‘I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.’
Students and fans of Swift, find this endorsement relevant. “I think that the most influential endorsement was Taylor Swift. What was really impactful about her endorsement of Kamala Harris is that not only did she support her, she also encouraged all people to register to vote,” junior Sarah Magazine said.
Ben Stiller, Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn, among others, participated in a Comics for Harris rally via Zoom. Brands such as Ford, Lyft and Costco, among others, signed a letter endorsing Harris. Beyoncé allowed Harris to use her song ‘Freedom’ as a fixture in her campaign but has yet to publicly endorse Harris.
Students say they pay attention to what these endorsements reveal. “I try to be as informed as I can be… but I definitely take notice when public figures are endorsing a certain candidate because it says a lot about their values and political beliefs,” senior Anna Lizondo said.
After withdrawing from the presidential race, President Joe Biden announced his support of Harris. As did former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama, quickly expressing their support for Harris when she first outlined her intention to win the Democratic nomination on July 21. Former President and First Lady Bill and Hillary Clinton have taken an active role in campaigning for Harris, offering advice, public praise and promoting fundraising efforts. The Clintons, Obamas and Bidens all spoke at the DNC in favor of Harris.
Musician Jason Aldean rallied around Trump after his assassination attempt, dedicating his controversial song ‘Try That in a Small Town’ at his Nashville show. Barstool Sports founder and owner Dave Portnoy also backed Trump in numerous social media posts. Social media star Bryce Hall posted his support for Trump and joined the former president onstage at his Las Vegas rally while sporting a MAGA hat. Shazam actor Zachary Levi endorsed Trump at a Michigan rally on Sept. 28. Actor Rob Schneider, who originally supported RFK Jr., backed Trump after the Independent candidate dropped out.
Wrestler Hulk Hogan endorsed Trump at the Republican National Convention (RNC), ripping his shirt open to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top underneath. Model Amber Rose, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, were among those who spoke at the RNC.
Presidential endorsements can be effective in capturing the attention of audiences and transparency regarding celebrities’ viewpoint to their communities. Voters may be inclined to follow them in their decision in the same way they click the follow button online. “While personally I think public endorsements have benefits, I do think there is a danger in voters blindly trusting others who have endorsed candidates, because at the end of the day each person needs to do their own research on the candidates to make a truly informed voting decision,” Lizondo said.
