Celebrity endorsements for former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X, have flooded users’ feeds in a sea of red and blue leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election. Mr. Trump and Vice President Harris have received support from famous entertainers and businesspeople as the race for the Oval Office comes to an end. These endorsements backing a candidate may not change a citizen’s vote, but may give a reason to go to the polls November 5, according to wkow.com.
Famous entertainers have supported United States (US) politicians dating back to the Election of 1920, when former President Warren Gamaliel Harding ran for office. Mr. Al Jolson, singer and actor, joined Mr. Harding on “front porch” campaigns to encourage people to travel and hear them, according to ohiomemory.org. Four decades later, singer and actor Mr. Frank Sinatra publicly supported former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in his campaign. The goal of celebrity endorsements is to lure voters, especially young voters, to the polls who may not otherwise cast a ballot, according to pbs.org. Mr. Matthew Meyer, Upper School History Teacher, expressed his opinion on the influence of celebrities bringing attention to past campaigns and their relevance in modern elections.
“When I first voted, I remember musicians getting people excited about Bill Clinton, as they marketed him as young and hip,” Mr. Meyer said. “Oprah [Winfrey] endorsed Barack Obama, who was marketed as a fresh face. The number one reason people vote is to elect a candidate who, in their view, offers the best economic program. However, among the 18 to 24 [year old] group, issues like the environment and social justice are often more of a concern. Celebrities who point to those specific issues could possibly help shift an election. Still, I believe that overall, celebrities have had a limited impact on recent elections, as many voters have already made up their minds based on other influences and pressing issues.”
Pop culture stars have endorsed the candidates from both major political parties in the 2024 Presidential Election. Celebrities supporting Vice President Harris include Ms. Taylor Swift, Ms. Olivia Rodrigo, Ms. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ms. Melissa Viviane Jefferson, professionally known as Lizzo. These prominent figures in the entertainment industry appeal to younger people who historically have had lower voter turnout rates, according to wkow.com. In comparison, Mr. Trump has received support from Mr. Elon Musk, Dr. Phil McGraw, Mr. Harrison Butker, Mr. Dana White, and Ms. Azealia Banks, according to forbes.com. Mr. Musk is one of the most high-profile figures backing Mr. Trump and has donated $75 million to his campaign since declaring his support, according to aa.com.tr. His ownership of X, a major social media platform, allows him to engage with voters more directly and promote Mr. Trump’s campaign further.
Ms. Swift demonstrated her significant influence on her fans with an Instagram post in September. This post endorsed Vice President Harris and urged Ms. Swift’s 283 million followers to vote in the upcoming election. Within 24 hours, the post gained over 10 million likes, and nearly 340,000 people visited the voter registration website linked in her post, vote.gov, according to reuters.com. Ms. Ashley Spillane, a civic engagement and political expert from Harvard Kennedy School, explained how influential figures inspire young voters, according to abcnews.go.com.
“Right now, young voters have relatively low levels of trust in a lot of leaders and institutions, including traditional news media, but celebrities are often a rare exception,” Ms. Spillane said, according to abcnews.go.com. “Voting should be the trendy, cool thing to do […] [a]nd there is evidence that when people feel this way about voting, they participate.”
Celebrities can use their influence to sway an audience, especially a group of young and impressionable voters who are embarking on a journey of civic duty, according to now.tufts.edu. Though many celebrity endorsements manifest on social media, bias, and misinformation can lead to skewed portrayals of candidates on the campaign trail. Mr. Meyer shared how social media plays a role in young people’s ultimate decisions in the 2024 election.
“I think social media, although a powerful way to spread information, is fragmented these days,” Mr. Meyer said. “Young people do not necessarily use the same social media platforms as their parents. […] I am not sure if Harris or Trump are going viral on young people’s social media to any degree. Young people’s voting in 2024 might come down to the very last news story about the two candidates and whether one is perceived to be better than the other somehow.”
Featured Image by Caroline Gammon ’26
