2 weeks Ago By Christopher Bucktin
If the 2024 US election were to be won by Hollywood endorsements, Kamala Harris would walk into the White House with the Oscar for “Best celebrity campaign.” However, with voters heading to the ballot box in just nine days, her rival, Donald Trump , is still favored by some pollsters to retake the Oval Office. US political watcher Patrick Finn told Daily Express US that although Harris had “obliterated” her Republican rival in the celebrity race , she still had much to do if she wants to become America’s first female president.
Empty seats at Trump's Pennsylvania rally as crowds walk out half way through 'Brain dead' chef, 28, become first person to recover from 'locked in syndrome' Terrifying nuclear map shows areas where 75% would die if WW3 broke out Hamas leader's sick 'instructions for Gaza hostages' and 'last orders' found Elon Musk makes major U-turn on 'pointless' ultra-cheap EVs “Historically, Hollywood endorsements have done little to sway public opinion. They have hardly touched the dial,” he said. “But in the world we now live in, with social media carrying so much weight, the 2024 race could be the first time we see celebrity influence make a difference.
“With that said, as we near the final hurdle, unless Harris starts making up lost ground on Trump and fast in terms of actual policies, she could have any endorsement she wishes, it will not be enough to get her in the Oval Office. “She needs to tell the American people how a presidency under her will put money in their pockets. “Trump is ahead in that area.
” Harris hopes her amassed A-list coalition, featuring music icons like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift , Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, Cher, Cardi B, and John Legend, could prove the difference in this razor-thin race. Such star power, including Barbra Streisand, Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence, has painted her campaign as a who’s-who of the entertainment industry, showcasing support from cultural heavyweights with major influence across age groups and genres. Beyoncé has lent her powerful anthem, “Freedom”, to the Democratic campaign.
She appeared on Friday at a rally in Houston, joined by her mother, Tina Knowles, and fellow Texan Willie Nelson. Swift has endorsed Harris on social media, calling her a “steady-handed” leader to 552 million followers. The singer's endorsement has energised her fan base, with hers known Swifties and Beyonce's as Beyhives, expected to turn out strongly at the ballot box in support of the Democrat, providing a massive boost among crucial female voters.
Cher and John Legend have also voiced support, with Legend emphasizing the stakes of the election, while Springsteen and Eminem recently rallied alongside former President Obama to back Harris. The current Vice President’s raft of endorsers is just as impressive in Hollywood. Actors like Sarah Jessica Parker, George Clooney, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jennifer Aniston have also all rallied for her, with Clooney highlighting her ability to lead with empathy and bridge political divides.
Parker even posted a photo of a Harris sign in her window. On the other hand, Trump’s list of celebrity supporters is, by contrast, a world away from current superstars and tends to skew toward nostalgic figures with niche appeal. Elon Musk has emerged as one of the former president’s biggest supporters, controversially donating $1 million a day to swing-state voters.
However, Musk’s influence remains polarising, especially among mainstream voters. Fallen Hollywood star Mel Gibson, who made headlines for a bigoted and sexist rant during a traffic stop, is possibly one the highest-profile backers of Trump. When asked at an airport last week who he is voting for, the Lethal Weapon actor replied: “I don’t think it’s going to surprise anyone who I vote for.
” “I’m going to guess Trump,” he was asked. “I think that’s a pretty good guess,” Gibson replied without endorsing the Republican by name. When then asked about Harris, he said: “Appalling track record.
No policies to speak of. And she’s got the IQ of a fence post.” Trump’s other celebrity endorsers include ageing cultural icons like actors Dennis Quaid, Jon Voight, and Roseanne Barr, wrestlers Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker, rock star Kid Rock, and UFC president Dana White - figures popular among his MAGA base.
Although the figures resonate with Trump’s established audience, they don’t carry the same cultural weight or relevance as Harris’s athletic endorsers. On the sporting front, again, the former president has struggled. He has a smattering of current and former NFL players, boxing promotor Don King and Mike Tyson.
Meanwhile, the VP’s “Athletes for Harris” initiative, launched in September, has drawn endorsements from NBA legend Magic Johnson, tennis icon Billie Jean King, Golden State Warriors basketball head coach Steve Kerr, and star player Steph Curry. The contrasts in celebrity and sporting support underscore different dynamics in each campaign. Finn added: “Harris’s endorsement list isn’t just extensive, it’s modern, representing an inclusive coalition that resonates with younger voters and mainstream culture.
“Trump’s lineup of endorsements, while loyal, tends to play to his existing base without reaching undecided or younger voters in the same way. “Come November 5, we will see just how much these stars swayed the 2024 campaign.”.
