A History of Taylor Swift’s Involvement in Politics

As a die-hard Taylor Swift fan, I’ve been following her journey with great interest and admiration. From her humble beginnings as a country music star to becoming a global phenomenon, she’s always stood out for her courage and conviction.

Six years have passed since Taylor Swift initially expressed her political support, and now she has declared her intention to cast her vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Just like many of us, I tuned into the debate tonight,” Taylor wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday to her 283 million followers. “I’ll be voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m choosing @kamalaharris because she stands up for the rights and issues I think require a strong advocate.

Prior to 2018, Taylor Swift had been generally silent on political matters, and she has often encountered criticism regarding her decisions on expressing her political opinions.

Here’s a timeline of when Swift has weighed in on U.S. politics.

Oct. 2018: Endorses Democrat in Tennessee Senate race

In the year 2018, Taylor Swift publicly expressed her political views for the first time. She criticized Marsha Blackburn, a Republican Senate candidate from Tennessee, and endorsed Phil Bredesen for the Senate position and Jim Cooper for the House of Representatives who were both Democrats.

Previously, I’ve held back from expressing my political views publicly. However, a series of personal experiences and global events over the past two years have significantly changed my perspective, causing me to feel more open about this matter now. In line with this shift, I have decided to participate in the upcoming Tennessee midterm elections as a voter. This is the sentiment expressed by Swift in her Instagram post.

On October 30, 2018, Swift shared a picture alongside her mother, expressing her endorsement for Bredesen. Her caption read, “We’re seeking leadership, not divisive fanaticism.

In the documentary “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana,” which debuted in January 2020, there’s a scene where Taylor Swift and her team discuss her support for Bredesen instead of Blackburn. She expressed her frustration with seeing more ads that concealed policies under the phrase “Tennessee Christian values.” As a resident of Tennessee and a Christian herself, she stated, “I don’t recognize those values as what we, as Tennesseans and Christians, truly stand for.

Despite concerns from her father and team about security and potential political fallout, Swift expressed her conviction by saying, “It’s crucial that I stand on the correct side of history… Father, please understand that I’m making this decision because I am committed to it.

Despite Swift’s support for Bredesen, Blackburn went on to win the election.

Oct. 2018: Encourages fans to vote early

In October, she too posted a picture with her toes adorned in red, white, and blue nail polish, urging her followers to make use of early voting opportunities. Early voting enables citizens to cast their votes prior to the actual Election Day.

When I was 18 and voting for the first time, I wish I had known about early voting – a convenient way to vote ahead of Election Day on November 6. As it happens, early voting begins today in Tennessee and continues until November 1. So go ahead and cast your vote now! 🇺🇸

June 2019: Supports the Equality Act

On June 1st, 2019, I took to Twitter to pen an open letter, addressing then-Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. In this missive, I passionately advocated for his support in defending the rights of the LGBTQ community by backing the Equality Act. This landmark legislation aims to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

She criticized former President Donald Trump for his resistance towards the bill, stating that while he claims his administration “supports equal treatment for all,” she finds it contradictory when he also argues that the Equality Act “contains harmful provisions that infringe upon parental and personal beliefs.” She emphasizes that advocating for a community and then immediately criticizing it as going against “conscience” or “parental rights” is problematic, suggesting there’s something wrong with being anything other than heterosexual and cisgender. This message, she argues, is detrimental to a nation filled with loving families that include same-sex, nonbinary, or transgender parents, children, or both.

In the same message, Swift encouraged her followers to compose identical letters to their respective senators and back the Change.org petition she launched, advocating for this particular act. “Let’s demonstrate our pride by urging, on a national scale, that our legislation ensures fairness for all citizens,” she penned.

March 2019: Shares she’s finding her political voice

In her article “30 Things I Discovered Before Turning 30” published by Elle, Swift expressed, “I’m discovering my political voice.

She penned down, “I spent considerable effort learning about the political system, including the branches responsible for passing bills impacting our daily lives. The problems I observed endangering the most susceptible members of society stirred within me a sense of responsibility to voice my opinions and potentially contribute to positive change.

She announced her intention to increase her political engagement, stating, “I find it unacceptable for our leaders to exploit racism and instill fear through subtle means. I’ve come to recognize that it’s my duty to challenge this repugnant discourse, and now I am committed to taking action to help.

Aug. 2019: Calls Trump’s presidency ‘autocracy’

During an interview with the Guardian, Swift admitted that she felt remorseful for not speaking up during the 2016 elections. If given the opportunity, she would have endorsed Hillary Clinton, who was then the former Secretary of State.

She called Trump’s presidency “an autocracy” and vowed to act differently in the 2020 election. “I just wanna do everything I can for 2020. I wanna figure out exactly how I can help, what are the most effective ways to help,” she said.

Swift explained that, as a rising star in the country music scene, she was frequently warned against emulating The Chicks, who faced industry backlash for speaking out against the Iraq War. “I witnessed country music extinguishing their flame. What could have been our greatest group was silenced, merely because they discussed politics. They were receiving death threats and serving as a warning to any artist that followed, with labels advising ‘Stay clear of political discussions, no matter what.’

Oct. 2020: Endorses Joe Biden

On October 7, 2020, Swift publicly announced her decision to support the presidential candidacy of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during an interview with V Magazine.

She declared that she would confidently cast her vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during this year’s presidential election. In their governance, she feels that America can embark on the much-needed healing journey it currently requires.

June 2022: Says she’s ‘terrified’ by overturning of Roe v. Wade

When the historic ruling on abortion rights in the case of Roe v. Wade was reversed, I couldn’t help but share an open letter penned by former First Lady Michelle Obama. I found myself deeply unsettled, expressing my feelings as “absolutely terrified” about where we seem to be heading.

Following numerous decades of advocacy for women’s control over their own bodies, today’s ruling takes away that right from us,” Swift penned.

Sept. 2023: Triggered a voter registration surge

On National Election Day, Taylor Swift shared an Instagram story directing fans towards Vote.org and urging them to sign up for voter registration. Subsequently, the organization reported that over 35,000 eligible citizens registered to vote after her call-to-action.

Aug. 2024: Trump shares fake endorsement

Trump shared AI-made pictures depicting Taylor Swift in an Uncle Sam outfit with the caption, “Taylor encourages you to vote for Donald Trump.” His Truth Social post additionally seemed to display many Swift supporters voicing their backing for the GOP’s presidential nominee.

Later on, Swift expressed that the fabricated images shared by Trump prompted her to speak out publicly about her backing of Harris: “It stirred up my apprehensions regarding AI and the perils of disseminating false information,” she wrote in her Instagram post endorsing Harris. “This incident led me to realize that I should be completely open about my genuine intentions as a voter. The most effective means to counteract misinformation is through truth.

Sept. 2024: Endorses Harris

During the initial presidential debate between Trump and Harris, Taylor Swift expressed on Instagram her intention to vote for Harris in November. She stated, “I find her to be a steady, talented leader, and I believe our country can achieve so much more with a calm approach instead of chaos.” Swift was particularly moved by Harris’ choice of running mate, Tim Walz, who has been advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s autonomy over her own body for many years.

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

She advised her followers to reach their own conclusions regarding the election: ‘I’ve studied the issues thoroughly and have decided on a candidate. The same goes for you – study up and decide for yourself.’

She signed off as a “Childless Cat Lady,” referencing Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance’s controversial comments about his Democratic opponents.

2024-09-12 00:06