Mary Whitfill Roeloffs
Topline
Celebrities have weighed in on the 2024 presidential race in a variety of ways, with some of the biggest names in sports and Hollywood hoping their backing can move the needle this November.
Key Facts
Joe Rogan—the host of the most listened-to U.S. podcast—backed Trump in a tweet that linked to an interview with billionaire Trump backer Elon Musk, whom Rogan said “makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear”—adding “yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump” (the podcaster also interviewed Trump last month.)
Musician and billionaire Rihanna indicated support for Harris in a post Monday in which she said “when protecting pu**ies and firing pu**ies can happen all in one vote” and joked about “trying to sneak into the polls with (her) son’s passport” with the hashtags #votecauseicant and #TanSuitSeason.
Rapper and singer will.i.am encouraged fans to vote for Harris in a new song and music video titled “Yes She Can,” in which he laments political division and slams Trump as a “predator” as scenes from the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection play, while urging women to vote “for your rights.”
Comedian and host of “Last Week Tonight” John Oliver passionately urged voters to support Harris in his last episode of the weekly show before the election, ending his show by saying, “wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where (Trump is) no longer an active threat, just an annoyance? … I hope everyone does everything in their power in the next 48 hours to make that world possible.”
In a video for Kamala Harris’ campaign, Harrison Ford said he would vote for Harris to “move forward,” citing former Trump administration officials who are “sounding alarms saying, ‘For God’s sake, don’t do this again.’”
Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern turned activist, called on voters to “PLEASE VOTE … preferably like I did for Harris/Walz.”
Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez endorsed Harris while campaigning in Nevada and said Trump had “offended every Latino in this country” after a comedian called Puerto Rico—where Lopez’s parents were born—a “floating island of garbage” at a pro-Trump rally.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who has criticized Trump and campaigned for Democratic presidential candidates in the past, endorsed Harris and said “the choice is clear” to him when he thinks about his children and family and “how they will grow up.”
“Avengers” cast members Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, Danai Gurira and Paul Bettany teamed up for a video endorsement of Harris, with Ruffalo urging voters in a follow-up tweet to “not sit this one out.”
YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul, 27, released an 18-minute video Thursday to express his support for Trump and encourage voters to base their research “in the truth, not just reckless propaganda or your favorite pop star telling you to vote a certain way.” Paul said in the video he gave up his right to vote when he moved to Puerto Rico in pursuit of his boxing career.
Rapper Cardi B—who in June said she would “never turn Republican” despite criticisms of Joe Biden—is set to give a speech during a Harris campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday that will also be attended by GloRilla, The Isley Brothers, Flo Milli, MC Lyte and DJ Gemini Gilly.
Reggaeton singer Nicky Jam—who took the stage at a Trump rally in September where the former president misgendered him in an introduction in which he said “She’s hot!”—on Wednesday renounced his support, making him the latest in a series of Puerto Rican artists to speak against Trump after a comedian at a rally called the territory an “island of garbage.”
Jam said in an Instagram video he’d supported Trump because he thought his economic plans would benefit Latinos, but that “Puerto Rico deserves respect” and he would no longer support the Republican.
Body builder, actor, billionaire and former Republican governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Harris in a social media post Wednesday in which he disparaged both parties and said, “I hate politics more than ever.”
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to ever walk on the moon, endorsed Donald Trump for president while praising his support of space exploration while in office, including the creation of the Space Force as a military branch of the U.S. armed forces focused on protecting American interests in space.
Brett Farve, the former NFL quarterback embroiled in a $77 million Mississippi welfare scandal, will campaign for Trump in the swing state of Wisconsin on Wednesday (Favre has denied all wrongdoing in the welfare scandal and hasn’t faced charges).
Musician Don Omar, the “King of Reggaeton,” said he would be supporting Harris because he believes her administration would be “one that uplifts, empowers and prioritizes dignity for all.”
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Tangent
Rapper 50 Cent told “The Breakfast Club” radio show Tuesday morning he turned down $3 million to perform at a Trump rally in Madison Square Garden Sunday and also rejected a paid offer to perform at the Republican National Convention in July. The musician, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has not endorsed a candidate this election and told the radio hosts he’s “afraid of politics.” In July, 50 Cent responded to the attempted assassination of the former president by putting Trump’s face on the cover of his “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” album. In 2020, when Trump ran against Joe Biden for the presidency, he said he was planning to back the Republican before later backtracking. He later tweeted, “F**k Donald Trump, I never liked him.”
What Other Celebrities Have Endorsed Harris?
Billionaire pop star Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris in an Instagram post minutes after a debate between Harris and Trump wrapped up. She’s joined by musicians Gracie Abrams, Mumford & Sons, Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin, Eminem, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks, Willie Nelson, Brittney Spencer, Margo Price, Cher, hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse, Marc Anthony, Lizzo, Usher, Olivia Rodrigo, John Legend, Cardi B, Kesha, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, Chappell Roan, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young, along with Beyoncé’s mom Tina Knowles. Beyoncé, whose song “Freedom” has been used by the Harris campaign throughout the election, joined the Democratic candidate at a Houston rally Oct. 25—as did former bandmate Kelly Rowland and actress Jessica Alba. Artist Charli XCX has not made outright endorsements but has signaled support.
A litany of actors have also offered support, including Will Ferrell and Billy Eichner, Octavia Spencer, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio , Sarah Jessica Parker, Whoopi Goldberg, George Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Rosie O’Donnell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cynthia Nixon, Mindy Kaling, Tony Goldwyn, Kerry Washington, Nick Offerman, Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Kathy Griffin, John Stamos, Ed Helms, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Matt Damon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Aubrey Plaza, Jennifer Aniston, Mel Brooks, Lynda Carter, LeVar Burton, Anthony Rapp, Misha Collins, Mark Hamill, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lawrence, Fran Drescher, Bryan Cranston and Anne Hathaway . Directors Ken Burns and Spike Lee, “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin and TV show host and producer Andy Cohen have also said they support Harris.
Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle and former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have also thrown their support behind Harris. Former President Jimmy Carter, now 100, reportedly told his son he was trying to make it to the milestone birthday (which he did) so he could cast his vote for Kamala Harris. Barbara Pierce Bush, the daughter and granddaughter of former Republican presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush, respectively, campaigned in Pennsylvania for Harris.
Billionaires Mark Cuban and Bill Gates have supported the Harris/Walz ticket, and other billionaire supporters of Harris include Laurene Powell Jobs, Arthur Blank, Michael Bloomberg, John Pritzker, Sheryl Sandberg, Eric Schmidt, Steven Spielberg, John Fish, Reed Hastings, Theodore Leonsis, Christy Walton, Elaine Wynn, Melinda French Gates and Sean Parker.
Others who have said they’ll vote for Harris include Republican political commentator Ana Navarro, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, fashion designer billionaire Tory Burch, Martha Stewart, scientist Bill Nye, former Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera and former member of the Trump administration and “The Apprentice” contestant Omarosa Manigault Newman.
What Other Celebrities Have Backed Trump?
UFC President and personality Dana White endorsed Trump on stage at the Republican National Convention. Actors Mel Gibson, Dennis Quaid, Jon Voight, Rosanne Barr and Zachary Levi have all expressed support.
Musicians Kid Rock, Amber Rose, Chris Janson, Jason Aldean and Azealia Banks have supported Trump.
Other supporters include Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, Joe Germanotta, a New York City restaurant owner and father of pop star Lady Gaga, Dave Ramsey and Dr. Phil McGraw.
Public-facing billionaires like Elon Musk and Steve Wynn have also supported the former president, and his donors include billionaires Bill Ackman, Marc Andreesen, Dan Snyder, Linda McMahon, Diane Hendricks, Miriam Adelson, Kelcy Warren, Timothy Dunn, Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein, Phil Ruffin, Jeff Sprecher and Kelly Loeffler, Jimmy John Liautaud, Geoffrey Palmer, Bernard Marcus, Robert “Woody” Johnson, Kenny Troutt, George Bishop, J. Joe Ricketts, Andrew Beal, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Don Ahern, Roger Penske, Richard Kurtz, Antonio Gracias and Douglas Leone.
Trump thanked Brittany Mahomes, wife of NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes, for her “defending him” after she lashed out at social media users who criticized her for liking several pro-Trump posts last month (Mahomes has not formally endorsed a candidate).
What Athletes Have Endorsed Trump?
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, boxing legend Mike Tyson, former New York Giants players Lawrence Taylor and Ottis “O.J.” Anderson, boxing promoter Don King and former NASCAR star racer Danica Patrick have all supported Trump. Former Pittsburgh Steelers players Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace appeared alongside him at a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
What Athletes Have Endorsed Harris?
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr endorsed Harris at the Democratic National Convention and the Warriors star Steph Curry said she was the “easy choice.” A campaign effort called Athletes for Harris launched in September with the endorsement of 15 Pro Football Hall of Famers and co-chairs of Athletes for Harris include former NBA star and billionaire Magic Johnson, Eagles defensive tackle Thomas Booker, women’s basketball legend Dawn Staley, tennis legend Billie Jean King, retired soccer player Ali Krieger, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers and NBA point guard Chris “CP3” Paul. The Seattle Storm WNBA team also endorsed Harris, as did former Steelers Jerome Bettis and “Mean” Joe Greene, as well as the son of Franco Harris, endorsed Harris for president.
Surprising Fact
Former KKK Leader David Duke said on his radio show that he was endorsing Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, for president. He called her the “only candidate who speaks clearly against the war in the Middle East.” Stein said she rejected the endorsement, calling Duke a “racist troll” and “white supremacist.” Duke endorsed Trump for president in 2020 and 2016.
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