Trump responded on Truth Social, stating, “This isn’t the real Oprah,” while users on X criticized Winfrey for allegedly supporting Harris.
How Often are US Celebrities Trotted Out for Political Gain?
Hollywood to the rescue: Democrats have enlisted pop stars and actors to boost Harris ahead of the November vote. A recent Siena College study shows Trump currently leading Harris in Arizona and is in a close contest in Georgia and North Carolina — key battleground states for the coming election. Meanwhile, a new study from Harvard University’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance shows that celebrities do sway US voter activity and decision-making.
Amplifying the message: Taylor Swift endorsed the Democrat contender immediately after her debate with Trump by alerting her 283 million followers on Instagram: "I am voting for Kamala Harris." The US press noted that the endorsement was timely and was aimed at bolstering support for the Democratic hopeful after the debate.
Likewise, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, as well as Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce, have also thrown their support behind Harris.
Shaping the political narrative: Top-rated Hollywood stars George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Robert De Niro have been rolled out by the Democrats in various roles. Clooney was a key figure in reshaping the narrative around President Joe Biden, helping to launch his now defunct re-election campaign this summer. Meryl Streep gave an impassioned speech endorsing “President Harris” last week, while De Niro bashed Trump as the “pure evil” side of the race. US media experts agree that Hollywood tends to be Democratic and liberal.
Celebrities endorse Trump, too: In just the past two months, the 45th president has garnered the support of roughly a dozen superstars, including wrestling legend, Hulk Hogan, musicians, Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus (Miley Cyrus' father), and Lady Gaga’s father, Joe Germanotta, among others.
Social media influencers also help spread the word: The Trump team has gotten endorsements from notable public figures such as Elon Musk, the owner of X, who has nearly 199 million followers; Canadian-American YouTubers, The Nelk Boys, whose audience totals around 200 million; and TikTok star, Bryce Hall, who boasts nearly 24 million followers.
Do Celebrity Endorsements Help Win Elections?
While studies and surveys show that superstars do reinvigorate civic participation in the election, previous records show their support doesn't determine who will win.
A 2016 analysis by Vanity Fair revealed that Hillary Clinton had managed to obtain more celebrity endorsements than her rival Trump. A-list stars backing Clinton participated in more public service campaigns nationwide than their Trump-supporting counterparts. Still, that didn't help Clinton win.
Likewise, American signers, entertainers, media personalities have so far failed to considerably boost Harris' poll numbers or draw voters on the fence to their side. Two separate surveys by YouGov and Marist show that Trump continues to maintain a lead among independents.