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
Actress and business woman Oprah Winfrey introduced Harris at a rally in Philadelphia Monday where she told supporters, “Every single vote, every one is going to matter.”
Artist Lady Gaga performed “God Bless America” at the Philadelphia Harris rally and introduced Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff.
Joe Rogan—the host of the most listened-to U.S. podcast—backed Donald 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.)
Pop star Katy Perry performed at a Harris rally in Pittsburgh Monday and said the candidate would “protect my daughter’s future” if elected.
Christina Aguilera performed her song “Fighter” at a Harris campaign rally in Las Vegas Monday.
Randi Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ mother, endorsed Trump during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday in a video wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.
Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke, 98, said on his official YouTube channel Monday that he would vote for Harris.
Actress Viola Davis narrated a new campaign video about Harris’ mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who raised two daughters after immigrating to the United States at age 19.
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who is British and not able to vote for president, endorsed Harris on Instagram the day before the election in a post that featured photos of four adult children, who can vote, and the caption “Jagger kids are voting for Kamala.”
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.”
Actress Chloë Grace Moretz used her endorsement of Harris to also come out as gay in an Instagram post Friday: “I believe in the need for legal protections that protects the LGBTQ+ community as a gay woman,” she wrote.
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.
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!”—later 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.”
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Tangent
Rapper 50 Cent told “The Breakfast Club” radio show 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 Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Cardi B, Don Omar, Gracie Abrams, Demi Lovato, 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 Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Harrison Ford, 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. “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. 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. 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.
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. Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern turned activist, called on voters to “PLEASE VOTE … preferably like I did for Harris/Walz.” Body builder, actor, billionaire and former Republican governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Harris in a social media post.
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, Dr. Phil McGraw and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
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, former quarterback Brett Farve, 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.” LeBron James also endorsed Harris. 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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