Beyoncé vs. Hulk Hogan: Celebrities Put Themselves in the US Election Campaign

The campaign of Democratic nominee Harris—who has yet to be confirmed but is very likely—may have been banking on one of the biggest names since Thursday: She got permission from Beyoncé (and likely her management) to use the song “Freedom” in her first election announcement. It’s not an official statement of support, but it’s a clear sign that the artist has no problem being associated with Harris’s campaign.

On the other hand, Trump can also count on prominent supporters: At last week’s Republican convention, former wrestler Hulk Hogan campaigned for Trump, ripping himself up on stage and calling the former president his “hero.” Hogan said that during his career, he had stepped into the ring with some of the “biggest and baddest on the planet,” but that Trump was “the toughest of them all.” The world’s richest man, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, also spoke in Trump’s favor.

Photo series containing 7 photos

Between Boomers and Gen Z

A look at the celebrities behind Harris and Trump also shows that they are supported by all age groups — and therefore will have an impact on different target groups. In addition to 1980s wrestling star Hogan, musician Kid Rock, who topped the charts in this country with his country-rock song “All Summer Long” in 2008, is also a Trump supporter.

But this probably won’t impress Gen Z very much. Here, Harris could probably score points with bigger names. British singer Charlie probably calls “Brat” “Gfrast,” which explains the phenomenon that is now being discussed not only by TikTok, but also by the conservative news channel Fox News, but only to a limited extent — more on that at fm4.ORF. in.

Donald Trump can count on the support of some influencers, perhaps the most famous of whom is Jake Paul, who rose to fame through YouTube prank videos, has caused a lot of controversy and is now a professional boxer. He and his brother Logan — also controversial but a professional wrestler — want to auction off the hat Trump was wearing when he was shot two weeks ago.

Democrats have more celebrity support

In recent decades in the United States, Democratic candidates have tended to have the backing of bigger names. Ronald Reagan, who became president in 1981, was the last Republican to have a big star behind him—but at least he had an acting career himself. Trump has also appeared frequently on television and is perhaps the only president who can look back on a (brief) wrestling career.

Some famous people who haven't decided yet

It remains to be seen how supporters of incumbent President Joe Biden will react to Harris’s nomination — and how celebrities who have yet to comment on the campaign will position themselves. Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey are arguably the two biggest names yet to speak out — but they are likely to rally behind Harris. The pop star and talk show host is said to have a lot of appeal. However, it’s hard to say how much that support, regardless of which side, will affect voters in terms of numbers.