Stateside Stories

In the modern era, the world of entertainment and the world of politics are closely linked. Celebrities often share their opinions on controversial issues such as climate change, abortion and global conflicts. Many even openly endorse certain political parties and candidates, and encourage their fans to vote in elections. In the US, the relationship between entertainment and politics is much closer than in other nations. In fact, many celebrities have gone on to have careers in politics. Some, like Arnold Schwarzenegger become Governors. Others, like Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump become Presidents. The idea of a former actor or reality show host becoming the country’s leader is inconceivable in other nations; but in the US it is now normal.

The upcoming election has been spoken about by plenty of celebrities. In recent weeks, many have endorsed either Trump or Harris; performing at rallies, sharing messages of support or speaking to the press. There is no doubt that actors, singers and sports stars are incredibly influential in today’s world, and these celebrities could easily encourage thousands of fans to vote for their candidate of choice.

Donald Trump

Kid Rock

Kid Rock has been a vocal supporter of Trump since 2016. The pair have struck up a strong friendship, with Kid Rock being a regular at Republican events and rallies. He and Trump have even played golf together. After a failed assassination attempt on Trump in July, Kid Rock recorded a video where he stated “if you fuck with Trump, you fuck with me.” At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he dedicated his song American Bad Ass to Trump. He referred to Trump as his “bestie” and frequently makes guest appearances on Fox News. He has spoken out against immigration and gun control, and has a strong disliking for the ‘Woke Left’. Many believe that he is one of the people to blame for America becoming so polarised, and his anti-left wing sentiments have become stronger over time. His endorsement may help Trump gain support from the minority on the Far Right, but few others.

Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan is another celebrity who has supported Trump for years, and who has shown a disdain for the Left. At the recent Republican National Convention, Hogan ripped his shirt off to reveal a Trump/Vance vest. He called Trump a “hero” and exclaimed “let Trump- O- Mania run wild, Brother!” He condemned the assassination attempt against Trump, and referred to him as the “next President of the United States.” Bizarrely, in 2008, Hogan supported Barack Obama. By 2016, he had jumped on the Trump bandwagon. It is difficult to know what changed during these eight years. Maybe Hogan is clinging on to whatever seems popular in the hopes of boosting his profile. Much like Trump, Hogan is a controversial figure who even admitted to being a racist back in 2015. If Trump wants to change perceptions that he only represents a small minority of the population, this endorsement by Hogan will certainly not help.

Kamala Harris

George Clooney

George Clooney has been a staunch supporter of the Democrats for decades. However, earlier in the year, many were shocked when he wrote an open letter asking current President Joe Biden to step down. Like many, he believed that Biden’s age and poor performance in a debate against Trump would guarantee a Republican victory. Clooney is a prolific fundraiser for the Democrats, and many think his open letter was instrumental in Biden’s decision to pull out of the race. He claimed that Biden had declined since 2020, and that the Democrats would not win with him as their leader. Just days later, he backed Harris. Given that Clooney invests a lot of money in the Democrat Party, having his support is undoubtedly a major advantage for Harris. However, there is a risk that Harris could become a candidate for the establishment, which may put some voters off. If Hollywood overwhelmingly backs her, it could make some voters feel alienated as they become concerned that she would not be able to represent ordinary people.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is someone who has been relatively apolitical until 2020, when she backed Joe Biden. She spoke out against Trump’s attitude towards women and sexual consent, and believed that he should not lead the country. Just over a week ago, Swift famously endorsed Harris on Instagram, signing her post “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady”, in reference to a comment that Trump’s running mate, J.D Vance made. Trump became very angry about Swift’s endorsement of Harris. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump posted a comment that simply said “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” A few weeks before, Trump posted AI generated images of Swift endorsing him, which she quickly confirmed were fake. Some believe that Swift’s endorsement may have backfired on Harris, given that she can be a somewhat polarising figure. Others believe that it will help, as Swift has a large fanbase of people under forty. She could easily help Harris win the Generation Z and Millennial votes. Given that those generations are less likely to vote in elections, Swift’s endorsement could give them the encouragement they need to take to the polls.