Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Stars such as Taylor Swift are taking a position ahead of the U.S. election. Why this is both brave and good for democracy.
The TV debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has been the high point of the 2024 U.S. election campaign so far. But the debate should not overshadow another important event: After a long silence, U.S. superstar Taylor Swift has taken a position; she wants to vote for Harris in November. Quite a few in the American political circus believe that, with 283 million Instagram followers, the 34-year-old could be a decisive factor in the election.
It is no surprise that she chose to vote for the Democrat. Swift has spoken out against Trump before. But in the current election campaign, she has been rather quiet, perhaps as a precaution; a position taken too far before the election could lose its impact. Perhaps also, because a clear statement could lose her a large number of fans — and therefore lose her a lot of money.
As a billionaire, Swift could take the hit. But her move deserves respect, as the political landscape in the U.S. is probably more polarized than ever before. Hostility and hate comments from the Trump camp are to be expected. Swift has even been threatened in the past. In Vienna, Islamists even planned an attack on one of her concerts because she advocates for an open society, equality and LGBTQ+ rights.
Heino Is a Trump Fan — and Is Criticized for It
German pop star Heino is currently facing a smaller amount of opposition. In a video on Instagram, Heino “outed” himself as a Trump fan and was heavily criticized for it on social media. Although most of the comments are factual, the political debate has become especially brutal online, and things often look different there. It’s no wonder then that many stars prefer to keep quiet rather than expressing their political opinions.
The big question is this: Should stars be allowed to influence fans and decide the outcome of the election? The answer is a clear “yes,” because apart from the fact that stars have the same freedom of opinion and speech as everyone else, it helps to shape public opinion when voters know the views of their idols.
Influencing Elections through Celebrities? No, Shaping Opinions!
Stars cannot be accused of improper influence; in the end, elections in democracies are free. The decision whether or not to agree with well-known personalities is up to the voters; however, all relevant information is required for an informed opinion. And that includes knowledge of the opinions of others, whether or not they are famous.
Dissent must be allowed. It doesn’t restrict freedom of expression if views clash, even if extremists often portray it differently. Also, stars can and need to be contradicted publicly, but hate comments and smear campaigns do not represent factual contradiction.
Precisely because Swift and Heino are likely to face such a situation, the two of them and all those who take a public stand deserve special respect. They know what threatens them and yet they stand up for their convictions. Thank you for that.
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