Taylor Swift’s ‘Fears Around AI’: Endorses Kamala Harris After Donald Trump Deepfake Incident

Key Takeaways

• Taylor Swift has said she will be casting her vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election.
• The endorsement comes after Trump shared deepfake images falsely suggesting Swift and her fans supported him.
• Commenting on the deepfakes, Swift warned of the dangers of spreading misinformation.

Following the 2024 presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Taylor Swift took to Instagram to tell fans that she intends to vote for Kamala Harris “because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”

Explaining her endorsement, Swift pointed to a series of deepfake images that falsely suggested she supported Donald Trump. 

Donald Trump Shares Taylor Swift Deepfakes

In a post on Truth Social on Aug. 18, 2024, Donald Trump shared a selection of deepfakes depicting Swift and her fans supporting him in the upcoming election.

Swift’s fanbase broadly condemned the AI-generated images, reacting strongly against what they viewed as an attempt to distort the truth.

Referencing the post on Tuesday, Sept. 10, Swift said: “It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation.” 

The deepfake images “brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” she added.

Celebrity Deepfake Abuse

The issue of AI-manipulated imagery is especially poignant for Swift, who has previously been targeted by deepfake abuse. Earlier this year, AI-generated, sexually explicit videos featuring her likeness circulated on social media, prompting X to block searches for her name to prevent the deepfakes from spreading.

Other mostly female celebrities, including Bobbi Althoff and Jenna Ortega, have also been victims of the trend, which has sparked investigations into social media platforms’ role and calls for new laws to prosecute offenders.

Swift’s Political Journey

While Swift’s early career was characterized by guarded political neutrality, her latest endorsement reflects the singer’s increasingly vocal support for Democrats in recent years.

Swift first declared her backing for a Democratic candidate in her home state of Tennessee in 2018, provoking the ire of Trump and many of his supporters. Breaking from her previously neutral public image, she endorsed Biden in 2020. 

Highlighting her support for liberal causes, the singer stated in her most recent Instagram post that she was “heartened and impressed” by Harris’ selection of Walz as a running mate, pointing to his record of “standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body.”

Referencing J.D. Vance’s criticism of prominent Democrats, Swift signed her message “childless cat lady.” Vance’s comments have been criticized for perpetuating negative stereotypes and are viewed by many as insulting to women.