VP Candidate Tim Walz Responds To Taylor Swift’s Endorsement

VP candidate Tim Walz is “grateful” for Taylor Swift’s support in the 2024 presidential race. The singer’s endorsement came in while Walz was appearing live on MSNBC following Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump’s debate on Sept. 10. Host Rachel Maddow appeared to be the first to share Swift’s statement with him, and he reacted on-air.

“Wow,” he said as soon as Maddow had read the full statement. “I am incredibly grateful, first of all, to Taylor Swift. I say that also as a cat owner — a fellow cat owner. ... That was eloquent and it was clear. And that’s the type of courage we need in America, to stand up.”

“We’ve seen it out of those Republicans who were at the DNC,” he continued. “We’ve seen it out of women who would like to have their own personal lives kept personal, but are forced to go out there ’cause they nearly died because they can’t get abortion services in a pregnancy. And now you have somebody like Taylor Swift, coming out and making that very clear.”

Walz concluded his reaction with a plea to Swift’s loyal fan base, adding, “This will be the opportunity, Swifties — KamalaHarris.com — get on over there, give us a hand, get things going.”

Taylor’s Endorsement

Swift announced her support for the Harris-Walz campaign on Sept. 10, minutes after the presidential debate ended.

“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift wrote in part. “I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”

The singer posted her endorsement with a photograph taken by Inez & Vinoodh, in which she posed with her cat Benjamin Button — a reference to comments from Sen. JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, belittling “childless cat ladies.”

Swift also gave a shoutout to Walz in her statement, writing, “I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”