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Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The inside story of why Taylor Swift spectacularly snubbed Kamala Harris on the campaign trail
Despite whispers and building anticipation that she could join Beyonce or Lady Gaga for the biggest political and pop culture spectacle in history, she never showed up on the campaign trail in support of Kamala Harris. Despite a debate night endorsement of Harris in September that sent Donald Trump spiraling, Taylor Swift decided to sit out the remainder of the 2024 cycle. The forthcoming book, 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, reveals new details about who's at fault for there never being a Harris-Swift moment on the campaign trail that could've captivated and motivated the pop star's legion of fans. 'Swift proved to be a special challenge. Staffers who worked on celebrity appearances were instructed not to make any outreach to her universe; Doug Emhoff was handling it,' wrote journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf. Emhoff, the authors explained, had an in with Swift's team. 'Before Harris became vice president, Emhoff had had a lucrative career as an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles,' they wrote. 'He and Swift's lawyer, Doug Baldridge, were both partners at the firm Venable.' Emhoff, the authors wrote, had reached out to Baldridge to 'convey that the campaign would appreciate any efforts the pop star could make to help Harris.' 'Baldridge said Swift would do what Swift thought was best,' they said. Taylor Swift surprised the Harris campaign by endorsing the Democratic nominee directly following her September 10 debate against President Donald Trump. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff was the only person allowed to do outreach to Swift's team On September 10, Harris stepped onstage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a first and only debate against the GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump. 'Minutes after the debate ended, Taylor Swift surprised the campaign with a full- throated endorsement posted on her Instagram,' the authors noted. 'She shared a photo of her with her cat, Benjamin Button, and signed it "Childless Cat Lady," a dig at J.D. Vance.' With no audience in the actual debate hall, the Harris campaign had set up shop at the Cherry Street Pier, an old warehouse on the Delaware River converted into art galleries and a performance space. 'Harris asked if she should mention the endorsement when she spoke to supporters at a watch party,' the authors said. 'They said that would sound too thirsty, but agreed to change her walk-off song to Swift's "The Man."' The mood in the room was electric - and it only seemed a matter of time before Swift, herself, would make some sort of appearance along Harris' side. Swift famously didn't step into politics until the 2018 campaign cycle - endorsing Tennessee Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper - and expressing remorse in the documentary Taylor Swift: Miss Americana for not doing more to help Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Trump in 2016. She endorsed Joe Biden via social media in 2020 - though the COVID-19 pandemic and Biden's COVID-conscious campaign strategy meant that celebrity engagement was limited. But the Harris campaign 'dedicated huge resources in the final month to massive rallies with celebrity guests,' the authors noted. 'Harris and Walz said they were bringing joy back to politics, and massive celebrity-filled rallies - Meghan Thee Stallion performed in Atlanta, Maggie Rogers in Ann Arbor, Gracie Abrams and Mumford & Sons in Madison, Wisconsin - were key to that strategy.' Beyonce - who had been rumored to appear alongside Harris at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August - finally hit the campaign trail at a special abortion rights rally in the songstress' hometown of Houston, Texas in late October. 'But privately, some campaign staff raised concerns that the major rallies may not be worth the millions of dollars they cost to stage or the staff investment,' the authors said. 'There was scant evidence that the rallies were persuading voters or necessarily boosting turnout.' Federal Election Commission filings later showed the Harris paid Beyonce's production company, Parkwood Production Media LLC, $165,000 for that event. There were also concerns about some of the celebrity assignments - such as sending Bruce Springsteen, whose fans are predominantly white, to Clarkston, Georgia, where the city's population is 70 percent black and 50 percent foreign-born. 'The predominantly white press corps seemed more interested in Springsteen's performance than the 23,000 mostly black attendees,' the authors wrote. Still, the celeb-filled Harris-Walz campaign carried on. And still no Taylor. In the final hours before Election Day, there was some evidence that a Swift appearance may finally be happening. On Monday, November 4, Harris was heading to Pennsylvania and would door-knock with volunteers in Reading, the closest city to Swift's birthplace. 'Rumors flew that the town's most famous daughter, Taylor Swift, would join Harris there or perform at a last rally in Philadelphia,' the authors said. 'Low-level Harris aides did nothing to tamp down the speculation.' Instead the final night featured performances by 2 Chainz in Raleigh, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas and Jon Bon Jovi in Detroit, which the authors called 'another head-scratcher for many black voters.' Reprising the role she played in 2016 and 2020, Lady Gaga was the main act for the final event, performing songs in front of the Rocky steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Emhoff had been told that Swift would do what Swift thought best. 'Nothing more than the endorsement ever materialized,' the authors said. A spokesperson for Swift did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kamala Harris Sparks MAGA Meltdown With Fourth of July Post
Former Vice President Kamala Harris sent MAGA into a frenzy with her simple Fourth of July message. 'I am taking a moment to reflect,' the ex-vice president wrote Friday on X alongside a photo of herself and her husband, Doug Emhoff. 'Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better.' It was the last two sentences of her statement, however, that sent President Donald Trump's supporters into full-on meltdown mode. 'I love our country—and when you love something, you fight for it," she added. 'Together, we will continue to fight for the ideals of our nation.' 'Is Kamala drunk?' right-wing influencer Gunther Eagleman added, in reference to rumors cherished by Republicans that Harris has a problem with alcohol abuse. 'Oh please–someone get her another fifth,' chimed in Chris LaCivita, Trump's campaign adviser. Other MAGA voices flocking to the comments section included conservative satire site The Babylon Bee founder Seth Dillon, who said he's 'taking a moment to reflect on how much worse things would have been if you'd won,' with some users lambasting Harris for appearing to have unceremoniously cut President Joe Biden and his wife Jill out of the photo she shared. Don't stop fighting, please run again in 2028. — 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) July 5, 2025 'Kamala cropping Joe out is very symbolic,' posted Link Lauren, a former adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr's campaign. Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kiersten Pels, for one, appeared more concerned with the timing of the former VP's post. 'Feeling grateful we didn't end up with a president who posts 'things are gonna get worse' on the Fourth of July,' she wrote. 'Don't stop fighting, Kamala,' Republican lawyer and former GOP Senate aide Mike Davis wrote in a repost of her message. 'And please run again in 2028.'
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kamala Harris Sparks MAGA Meltdown With Fourth of July Post
Former Vice President Kamala Harris sent MAGA into a frenzy with her simple Fourth of July message. 'I am taking a moment to reflect,' the ex-vice president wrote Friday on X alongside a photo of herself and her husband, Doug Emhoff. 'Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better.' It was the last two sentences of her statement, however, that sent President Donald Trump's supporters into full-on meltdown mode. 'I love our country—and when you love something, you fight for it," she added. 'Together, we will continue to fight for the ideals of our nation.' 'Is Kamala drunk?' right-wing influencer Gunther Eagleman added, in reference to rumors cherished by Republicans that Harris has a problem with alcohol abuse. 'Oh please–someone get her another fifth,' chimed in Chris LaCivita, Trump's campaign adviser. Other MAGA voices flocking to the comments section included conservative satire site The Babylon Bee founder Seth Dillon, who said he's 'taking a moment to reflect on how much worse things would have been if you'd won,' with some users lambasting Harris for appearing to have unceremoniously cut President Joe Biden and his wife Jill out of the photo she shared. 'Kamala cropping Joe out is very symbolic,' posted Link Lauren, a former adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr's campaign. Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kiersten Pels, for one, appeared more concerned with the timing of the former VP's post. 'Feeling grateful we didn't end up with a president who posts 'things are gonna get worse' on the Fourth of July,' she wrote. 'Don't stop fighting, Kamala,' Republican lawyer and former GOP Senate aide Mike Davis wrote in a repost of her message. 'And please run again in 2028.'


Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Kamala Harris is slammed for ' worst Fourth of July post ever' as she takes brutal swipe at Biden
Kamala Harris has been derided over her gloomy Fourth of July message with eagle-eyed viewers spotting a swipe at her former running mate Joe Biden. Harris, 60, took to X to share a downbeat message about the state of the country for the national holiday. 'This Fourth of July, I am taking a moment to reflect. Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better,' Harris posted Friday on X. 'But I love our country - and when you love something, you fight for it. Together, we will continue to fight for the ideals of our nation.' The former presidential hopeful used a recycled photograph to mark the occasion. The image showed Harris and then-second gentleman Doug Emhoff watching fireworks during last year's Independence Day celebration, his arms around her in an intimate embrace. But social media users quickly pointed out that the photo was tightly cropped to exclude Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden. 'Kamala cropping Joe out is very symbolic,' Link Lauren, a former senior adviser to RFK Jr.'s campaign, as he shared the original photo on X showing the first couple standing right next to them on the White House balcony. 'It's almost disgraceful. She should've honored that position and did the best that she could. She failed miserably,' pointed out another user. 'Wow, how classy,' another sneered sarcastically. 'At least take his arm out of the shot when you crop it,' one user jeered, pointing to the apparent Photoshop fail where Harris had failed to entirely crop out Biden leaving part of his arm visible. Others tore into the former Vice President and 2024 presidential hopeful over the bleak messaging. 'I scrolled until my fingers were bleeding to try and find a single comment in this thread that supported you. I was unable to do so. Maybe its time to retire,' quipped one user. 'I'm taking a moment to reflect on how much worse things would have been if you'd won,' said another. 'Here you are trashing the people who fought for this nation and won its independence. You are anti-American garbage,' one user raged. 'What you really mean, is it things are hard for you! Things are actually getting better in our country thanks to you not being involved in it! Have a nice day,' another called out. In the face of overwhelming hate, her supporters largely overlooked the cropped photo, instead expressing disappointment that she didn't win the presidency. 'You should've been president,' wrote popular X influencer @buffys, who boasts nearly 350,000 followers. 'She should've won. It's so sad these people voted for this man karma is real and his voters will be affected,' grieved another. Since her sweeping loss to Donald Trump in the 2024 election - after all seven swing states broke for the GOP following Biden's exit from the race - Kamala Harris has made few public appearances. One of her rare outings came in April, when she gave a pointed speech at a San Francisco gala for Emerge, a Democratic group that backs female candidates. Without naming Trump, Harris criticized his administration's handling of the economy and immigration, in remarks that some viewed as a political trial balloon. Kamala Harris made history in 2024 as the second woman - and first woman of color - to top a major party presidential ticket. But a new poll reveals what voters believe ultimately cost her the election. An exclusive survey conducted by J.L. Partners for asked over 1,000 voters to describe, in a few words, why they think Harris lost to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race. The poll, carried out between November 29 and December 1, found the economy dominated responses across the board - citing inflation, rising prices, and financial anxiety as top reasons for Trump's win. But among Harris's own supporters, one word came up more than any other: woman. In April, Harris resurfaced at a Democratic gala in San Francisco, where she took veiled swipes at Trump's economic and immigration record without naming him directly (Biden and Harris on stage at the DNC winter meeting in Philadelphia, Feb. 3, 2023) Many blamed her defeat on sexism, claiming the country still isn't ready to elect a female president, a sentiment that mirrors Hillary Clinton's 2016 loss. Some Harris voters also pointed to racism, Trump's 'lies,' and even blamed the American electorate itself, calling voters 'stupid'. Others noted the challenge Harris faced with limited time. After Biden bowed out of the race in July, Harris had just 107 days to mount a national campaign. Biden's name also appeared frequently in the responses, suggesting lingering frustrations with the outgoing president weighed on Harris's chances. When it came to Trump voters, their answers were more varied. Some pointed to his experience, policies, and strength on the economy. Words like 'tired,' 'inflation,' and 'woman' appeared - but far less frequently than among Harris supporters. More cutting responses included 'incompetent' and 'idiot,' as some Trump backers took direct aim at Harris's leadership ability and qualifications.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Vice President Kamala Harris a favorite in governor's race if she runs, according to new poll
Former Vice President Kamala hasn't decided whether she will run for California governor next year, but a new poll released Wednesday shows that she would be a favorite of voters if she does. Though many voters were undecided, Harris was the choice of 41% of survey respondents, compared to 29% who opted for an unnamed Republican candidate, according to a poll by the University of California Irvine. She also had the greatest favorability ratings and is most well known compared to all of the candidates who have announced. 'The path to governor seems well-paved for Vice President Harris if she decides to run,' said Jon Gould, dean of UCI's School of Social Ecology, in a statement. "Although she lacks majority support at the moment, people know her better than the other candidates and generally view her favorably." Harris, who served as the state's attorney general and U.S. senator, unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, became former President Joe Biden's vice president and then ran for president in 2024 in a whirlwind and unsuccessful campaign after Biden decided not to run for reelection. She has kept a relatively low profile since losing the November presidential election, moving back to the Brentwood home she shares with husband Doug Emhoff. She has made some public appearances, most recently attending the Saturday funeral for Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was killed along with her husband in what a federal prosecutor has described as an assassination. Harris also recently delivered her most pointed remarks about President Trump and attended a high school graduation in Compton. Read more: Kamala Harris blasts Trump's policies in first major speech since leaving office Only 5% of Californians had never heard of Harris, while every other announced candidate was unknown by a far larger number of respondents, including those who had run for statewide office previously. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who ran for governor in 2018, was unknown by 47% of survey respondents; 48% were unfamiliar with former Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2024. When tested against candidates who have announced, Harris was the choice of 24% of voters, the only candidate to crack double digits, according to the poll. However, 40% of respondents were undecided, according to the poll. Read more: Who is running for California governor in 2026? Meet the candidates Among Democrats, who account for 47% of the state's voters as of February, Harris had the support of nearly half, while every announced candidate had single-digit support. Harris led among Californians in every region and in every racial group, according to the poll. Billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2022 and is reportedly debating whether to run for mayor again or governor, was the favored choice of GOP voters, with the backing of 27% of survey respondents. Harris, whose representatives did not respond to a request for comment, is expected to decide whether she enters the race by the end of the summer, a delay that has prompted criticism from several candidates in the crowded field of candidates who have already announced their bids. Read more: Democrats running for California governor take digs at Kamala Harris' delayed decision on the race The statewide poll of 4,143 Californians was conducted online in two separate polls, one between May 27 and June 2, and another between May 29 and June 4. The margin of error in either direction varies between 2.9% and 3.6%, according to UCI. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.