Following Donald Trump’s victory in Thursday’s U.S. presidential election, many stars who publicly endorsed Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris are left disappointed. Trump’s previous warnings that celebrities supporting Harris would pay the price hint at potential post-election tensions between Trump and these stars.
According to U.S. media outlets, including Fox News, Trump clinched the presidency by securing 277 electoral votes, surpassing the required majority. Harris fell short with 226 votes, dashing hopes of seeing the first female president in U.S. history.
Throughout the campaign, Harris received strong support from Hollywood stars like Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and America’s “sweetheart” Chloë Grace Moretz, who is openly LGBTQ. Pop icons Taylor Swift, Cardi B, and others publicly backed Harris.
On the final day of campaigning in Scranton, Pennsylvania—the hometown of President Joe Biden—celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey, and Ricky Martin joined Harris, generating significant media attention. Other high-profile supporters included Beyoncé, Olivia Rodrigo, Eminem, Stevie Wonder, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, John Legend, and actors Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, and Anne Hathaway.
One notable supporter was Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican who openly endorsed Harris, sparking widespread interest. Among Harris’s celebrity supporters, Taylor Swift drew the most attention. Her fanbase, known as Swifties, numbers an estimated 300 million in the U.S. and has the potential to sway young female voters.
On the day Swift announced her support for Harris, visits to voter registration sites surged to over ten times the usual rate. Her endorsement was credited with helping Biden win the previous election. However, despite Swift’s support for Harris, Trump took the lead this time.
Cardi B, a prominent American rapper, also publicly endorsed Harris, giving speeches in her favor. When early results showed Trump leading in swing states, Cardi B posted a tearful reaction, sharing her emotions on social media with the caption, “I hate yall bad.”
In contrast, while smaller, Trump’s celebrity support base included notable figures from business and entertainment. Among his public endorsers were actor Mel Gibson, Kim Kardashian, UFC President Dana White, pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, and former NFL player Brett Favre.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk emerged as Trump’s most high-profile supporter, contributing $75 million to the campaign in the third quarter alone.
In return, Trump announced last September that, if elected, he would establish a Government Efficiency Commission to reform the federal government and would assign Musk to lead it. Following Trump’s victory, Musk posted on X, “The future is gonna be fantastic,” expressing his excitement.
Most Commented