Fact Check: Did Taylor Swift Use Instagram to Subtly Endorse Harris for President?

Claim:

A photo posted to Taylor Swift's Instagram revealed the singer's endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Rating:

False ( About this rating? )

On Aug. 6, 2024, an X account published a post alleging that pop star Taylor Swift had subtly endorsed U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential election, which was perceived as a blow to Donald Trump supporters. According to the post : " Taylor Swift just low key endorsed Kamala Harris and MAGA is losing their minds."

(CALL TO ACTIVISM/X)

At the time of this writing, the post had received 3.1 million views, 1,000 comments and 38,000 likes. Other social media accounts also posted the rumor , with many insisting that Swift's photo was an " unofficial endorsement " of Harris.

However, this claim is false, as there is no evidence Swift has publicly endorsed any candidate yet for the 2024 election.

We reached out to Swift's team for a comment regarding the photo and any potential presidential endorsement, but did not receive an immediate response.

The image in question was taken from Swift's official Instagram account, where on Aug. 6, she shared a carousel of photos taken at her three concerts in Warsaw, Poland, held from Aug. 1–3, during the European leg of her Eras Tour.

The rumor of Swift's alleged presidential endorsement stemmed from one photo among the 10 she posted, in which the singer, dressed in a sparkling leotard, was holding a pink acoustic guitar while making a hand gesture. Behind her, a shadowy silhouette seemed to mirror her pose, leading social media users to speculate that the silhouetted figure represented Democratic presidential candidate Harris, interpreting it as subtle endorsement.

(taylorswift/Instagram)

While Swift has 283 million followers on the social media platform, she has disabled comments. In the accompanying caption, Swift expressed her love for the Warsaw shows, marking her first performance in Poland and noting that it wouldn't be the last:

Oh I loved those Warsaw shows SO much!!! Our first time ever playing in Poland, but it won't be the last... I seriously had the best time 😆 Also want to thank those beautiful crowds for making us the first tour to play 3 nights in a row in your stadium!! I can't believe we have 2 cities left on the European leg of The Eras Tour. It's truly flown by. See you 🔜 Vienna!

Over on X where the image was reposted, many social media users believed the photo indeed represented Swift's endorsement of Harris for president. "Brilliant @taylorswift13 and she endorsed harris in a creative way," wrote one social media user. " It's what Taylor calls an 'Easter Egg' which means a clue. She is letting us know she is about to endorse Kamala..probably waiting until she gets off her tour in a few weeks, and will be back in the states (well before the election)," another responded.

However, another X account debunked this theory by reposting a photo allegedly taken at one of the Warsaw concerts from a different angle, showing that the figure was one of Swift's backing performers. The commenter wrote, " It's literally a backup singer. Here she is from another angle right before that picture was taken."

(Kyle Schwerin/X)

Another commenter, claiming to be a devoted Swift fan, clarified: " As a certified Swiftie, this is her dancer after singing 'The Man' and before she sings 'Lover' but I do think this photo is strategic as Taylor is a true Mastermind."

Throughout her Eras Tour, which began March 2023, Swift's backup performers have worn various costumes, including power suits similar to the tailored pant suits favored by Harris.

July 27, 2024: Taylor Swift performed a concert with her backing dancers in Munich, Germany. (Getty Images)

Vice President Kamala Harris favors power suits. (Getty Images)

Although Swift did not publicly endorse any political candidate or political party until 2020, she is known for her liberal views that closely align with the Democratic Party. In the past she has been vocal in her support for reproductive rights , gender equality, LGBTQ+ advocacy and gun control measures.

In an Oct. 7, 2020, issue of V Magazine , less than one month before Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020, Swift publicly endorsed the Democratic Party, telling the publication, "I will proudly vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in this year's presidential election. Under their leadership, I believe America has a chance to start the healing process it so desperately needs."

Snopes has fact-checked other claims about Swift, including the false rumor that she and Beyoncé were hosting a fundraising concert in support of Harris , and the satirical claim that Swift's younger sister has received $63K in student loan forgiveness (when it is a known fact that Swift's only sibling is her brother, actor Austin Swift ).

Sources:

10 Artists Who Have Stood Up For Women In Music: Taylor Swift, Lizzo & More | GRAMMY.Com . https://grammy.com/news/artists-standing-up-for-women-taylor-swift-lizzo-harry-styles-brandi-carlile-pink-madonna-alicia-keys-ariana-grande-list. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024. "Austin Swift | Actor, Producer, Camera and Electrical Department." IMDb , https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6695202/. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024. CALL TO ACTIVISM. X , 6 Aug. 2024, https://x.com/WUTangKids/status/1821040162073162152. Ford, Lily. "Taylor Swift Instagram Post Sparks Kamala Harris Endorsement Speculation." The Hollywood Reporter , 7 Aug. 2024, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/taylor-swift-kamala-harris-silhouette-instagram-endorse-walz-election-1235968005/. Framke, Caroline. "Taylor Swift Will Never, Ever, Ever Tell Us Who She Voted for in 2016." Vox , 8 Nov. 2016, https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/11/8/13565144/who-is-taylor-swift-voting-for-clinton-trump-election. Instagram . https://www.instagram.com/p/C-VyDVMhrNH/?img_index=7. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024. Park, Andrew, and Amy Schoenfeld Walker. "2024 Presidential Election Calendar." The New York Times , 5 Aug. 2024. NYTimes.com , https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/us/elections/2024-election-calendar.html. Pettibone, Kat. "Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' Dancers and Backup Vocalists." Us Weekly , 31 Jan. 2024, https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/taylor-swifts-eras-tour-dancers-and-backup-vocalists/. Swift, Taylor. "@taylorswift13." X , 24 June 2022, https://x.com/taylorswift13/status/1540382753677627393?lang=en. "Taylor Swift Concert History." Concert Archives , https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/taylor-swift--2?page=2#concert-table. "Taylor Swift Endorses Joe Biden for President." NBC News , 7 Oct. 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/taylor-swift-endorses-joe-biden-president-n1242483. "Taylor Swift Supports Gun Control Without Making Any Political Statements." W Magazine , 23 Mar. 2018, https://www.wmagazine.com/story/taylor-swift-march-for-our-lives. "V127: The Thought Leaders Issue With Taylor Swift." V Magazine , 7 Oct. 2020, https://vmagazine.com/article/the-thought-leaders-issue-taylor-swift/. https://www.taylorswift.com/tour/. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.