Celebrities backing Trump vs. Harris in the American presidential race
From Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Oprah Winfrey to Elon Musk and Hulk Hogan, here’s a star-studded low-down on who’s in which corner.
This week is set to go down in history as the world welcomes the 47th President of the United States of America. Will it be Vice President Kamala Harris, or will Donald Trump be back in the White House for the second time? While the two contenders have rallied across the country to swing voters their way, it’s the stars from Hollywood and other walks of life who have pulled out all the stops in lending their support to their preferred candidates. Everyone seems to have election fever, with the likes of Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, and Stevie Wonder, amongst others, batting for Team Harris, while Hulk Hogan, Elon Musk, Mel Gibson, and Russell Brand are squarely Team Trump. Here’s Bazaar India letting you know who’s in which team.
Team Kamala Harris
Beyonce
It was just a few days ago that the Queen B spoke at a Harris rally in her home town of Houston. Addressing the Democratic rally, she said, “I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother. A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we're not divided. Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations … We must vote, and we need you.”
Taylor Swift
The pop star announced she was Team Harris moments after the presidential debate in September between Harris and Trump. Her Instagram post said, “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election … I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”
Stevie Wonder
The legendary Wonder endorsed Harris at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), where he said, “This is a moment to tell your children where you were and what you did … When we stand between history’s pain and tomorrow’s promises, we must choose courage over complacency.” Add to that, the 74-year-old has also appeared in a Harris ad alongside film director Spike Lee.
Oprah Winfrey
The former talk show host has always been a vocal supporter of the Democratic Party having previously endorsed Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. As the host of the DNC, she said, “Soon, and very soon, we’re going to be teaching our daughters and sons about how this child of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, two idealistic, energetic immigrants … grew up to become the 47th President of the United States.”
Julia Roberts
The Hollywood actor, in a recent advertisement, urged the wives of Donald Trump supporters to vote for Harris saying, “In the one place in America where women still have a right to choose, you can vote any way you want and no one will ever know … Remember, what happens in the booth, stays in the booth. Vote Harris-Walz.”
Jennifer Lopez
In a 13-minute speech, JLo spoke at a rally in Las Vegas last week where she endorsed Harris. Responding to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s racist remarks about Puerto Rico at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally last weekend in New York, she said: “It wasn’t just Puerto Ricans that were offended that day, it was every Latino in this country, it was humanity and anyone of decent character … There is no candidate in the history of the presidency that is more qualified and there is no job that Kamala Harris can’t do.”
Eminem
The rapper has always been a staunch critic of Donald Trump. In a Harris rally in Detriot, his home town, he said, “I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution, of what people will do if you make your opinion known. I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
Megan Thee Stallion
The rapper spoke in Atlanta back in July, saying, “I want to start off by saying: hotties for Harris.” Performing a compilation of hit songs, the 29-year-old singer said: “We about to make history with the first female president, the first Black female president.”
Samuel L. Jackson
Addressing a rally of more than 20,000 people in Atlanta last month, the Hollywood legend said that Harris was, “running on a proven track record of fighting for the people, standing up to bullies, protecting the most vulnerable and taking on the toughest fights… That’s the kind of president I can stand behind.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Terminator actor and former Republican governor of California endorsed Harris very recently saying, “I will always be an American before I am a Republican.” He said that if Trump wins, “it will just be four more years of bullshit with no results that makes us angrier and angrier, more divided, and more hateful”.
LeBron James
The four-time NBA champion endorsed Kamala Harris just days ago by posting a video showing racist, anti-Hispanic comments made by Trump. In his caption, the Los Angeles Laker wrote: “What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!”
Cardi B
Cardi B, who previously defended Harris from political misogyny, spoke at her rally in Milwaukee on Friday. “She changed my mind completely. I did not have faith in any candidate until she joined the race,” she said. “Just like Kamala Harris, I too have been the underdog. I’ve been underestimated, my success belittled and discredited … Women have to work 10 times harder, perform 10 times better, and still, people question us, how we got to the top,” she added in a follow-up. She also called Trump a business “hustler” who doesn’t “believe women deserve rights”.
Madonna
Pop legend Madonna revealed she returned home to the US following a trip to Paris to vote for Harris. The singer posted on social media: "Paris was so fun! It was hard to leave, but I had to come home to VOTE Kamala Harris for president!!!!"
Team Donald Trump
Hulk Hogan
The wrestling star is among those publicly endorsing Trump, having made an appearance at the Republican National Convention in the summer and at a rally in New York last month. He said that “as an entertainer”, he tried to stay detached from politics but he could “no longer stay silent” due to “everything that’s happened to our country over the past four years”, adding: “We never had it better than the Trump years.” At the New York rally, held at Madison Square Garden, he told the gathered “Trumpamaniacs” that he had won heavyweight titles and body-slammed “giants” there, but the energy at the rally was “something like I've never felt”, and “the most powerful force in the universe”.
Elon Musk
There is little to no surprise seeing the world’s richest man supporting the businessman-turned-politician. Images and videos of Musk jumping up and down at Trump rallies (where he described the election as a “must-win” situation) and handing out $1m checks to supporters have become part of pop culture as they have found a place in countless memes. Add to that, Musk, the owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX has donated close to $75m (INR 630 crore) to America Pac, his pro-Trump political action committee. At one rally, Musk said, “I’m dark, gothic Maga” highlighting Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan.
Mel Gibson
The actor, last month, was asked by a camera operator about who he was voting for, and he replied that Trump was “a good guess”. Sharing his thoughts about Harris, he said, “I know what it’ll be like if we let her in. And that ain’t good. Miserable track record. No policies to speak of. She’s got the IQ of a fence post.”
Russell Brand
In an episode of his Stay Free with Russell Brand podcast in June, the actor and comedian expressed his support for the former president by saying, “They act as if a vote for Donald Trump is almost like you’re directly voting for Armageddon … But I’m starting to think that no, a greater threat to democracy is this kind of technological feudalism, that tells you that it cares about you and that it’s protecting vulnerable people, all the while increasing censorship, increasing the funding of wars, increasing the division between ordinary Americans.”
Kid Rock
In an interview with Rolling Stone in May, the singer expressed his support for Trump, saying, “You think I like Trump because he’s a nice guy? … I’m not electing the deacon of a church. That motherfucker likes to win. He likes to cheat in his fucking golf game. I want that guy on my team. I want the guy who goes: “I’m going to fight with you.”
Lead image: Getty Images
