Taylor Swift declares support for Kamala Harris post-debate

On Tuesday, Taylor Swift announced that she plans to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, a move that surprised few familiar with her past political statements.

“I’m voting for Kamala Harris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift, 34, wrote on Instagram. The pop star praised Harris for being “a steady-handed, gifted leader,” adding, “I believe we can achieve so much more as a country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”

Fresh off her European leg of the Eras Tour, Swift explained that she had done her "research" before making her decision and encouraged her fans, known as Swifties, to do the same. Her decision to be open about her vote came after the circulation of an AI-generated image falsely depicting her supporting a Republican candidate.

“That really pushed me to be transparent about my actual plans as a voter in 2024. The best way to combat misinformation is through the truth,” Swift added. Though she shared her reasons for backing Harris, she stopped short of directly urging her fans to vote for the vice president, instead encouraging them to make informed decisions of their own.

* The New York Post contributed to this article.