One of the few things that unites Republicans and Democrats is their reaction to celebrity political endorsements. Republicans see them as a boon to their campaigns, as wealthy and out-of-touch entertainers endorsing liberal candidates like Vice President Kamala Harris often alienate average voters. Liberals, meanwhile, enjoy the star power, even if it doesn’t translate to electoral success.
Take Bruce Springsteen. This year, he appeared alongside other affluent entertainers to endorse Kamala Harris, mirroring his 2004 performance with John Kerry on election eve. Back then, Kerry lost to George W. Bush, despite Springsteen’s star-studded support. POLITICO also noted Springsteen’s involvement in mocking Ronald Reagan’s campaign during his 1984 re-election where young voters waved American Flags during Born in the USA, leading up to a 49-state landslide for Reagan.
Paul Sancya/AP Photo
Back in 2018, Fox News TV host Laura Ingraham said that basketball star LeBron James should “shut up and dribble” after he spoke out about politics. This drew attacks from liberal outlets such as NPR, but simultaneously captured the sentiment of many voters. Though her phrasing may have been harsh, the underlying message resonates—celebrity endorsements often fail to sway voters and typically backfire.
What do multimillionaires like Bruce Springsteen who’s worth $750 million, LeBron James worth $800 million, or Taylor Swift worth $1.5 billion know about the struggles of average Americans paying 30-50 percent more for groceries and gas since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office? Oprah Winfrey, worth $4 billion, came under fire when reports surfaced that Harris’ campaign paid $1 million to her HARPO company to host an event featuring her endorsement. It took several days for liberal outlets to even get a response from Oprah, at which point she spun that she did not personally receive the $1 million in documented payments. The optics further underscored the disconnect between wealthy celebrities and everyday voters.
Having attended the 2004 election eve concert for John Kerry, I recall many enjoying Springsteen’s performance as much as they enjoyed celebrating George W. Bush‘s victory the following night. A Democratic aide and long-time Biden confidant I presented with afterward candidly admitted that the focus on celebrity endorsements like Springsteen’s likely cost Kerry the election by reinforcing the narrative that he preferred elite entertainers and was out of touch with ordinary Americans.
A compilation of endorsements by Vanity Fair and Celebrity Net Worth highlighted this disconnect. The 19 wealthiest celebrities—including singers, actors, and athletes—who endorsed candidates in 2024, all supported Harris. Meanwhile, the wealthiest Trump endorsers, Kid Rock and Hulk Hogan, ranked far lower on the wealth list. Here’s a breakdown of the top wealthiest celebrity endorsers for Harris and Trump. You can click here for the top 40 overall.
When liberal outlets like The Independent celebrate Kathy Griffin’s reactions to Donald Trump‘s indictment—despite her infamous photo with a decapitated Trump head—they reveal how disconnected these endorsements are from voter priorities. Author Stephen King has also used his platform to relentlessly criticize Republicans, yet such vitriol doesn’t seem to persuade voters any more than celebrity endorsements do. On the contrary, two individuals influenced by anti-Trump rhetoric even attempted to assassinate him rather than waiting for liberal prosecutors to disqualify him through legal means.
Unless celebrities are willing to use their wealth to alleviate the financial burdens voters face that worsened under Biden and Harris, their political opinions are irrelevant to most Americans.
The pattern is clear—no one cares who celebrities think they should support. While celebrities and Democrats excel at raising and spending money—such as the $1 million Harris’ campaign reportedly spent on Oprah’s event during their $1.5 billion total campaign war chest spending fee—this strategy often fails to resonate with voters. Harris’ 226 electoral votes along with her becoming the first Democrat since John Kerry to lose the popular vote underscore the ineffectiveness of star-studded endorsements.
These endless examples tell a story of wealth and disconnect, with average voters consistently choosing policy over celebrity spectacle. If history is any guide, the “kiss of death” from celebrity endorsements is likely to continue.
John Pudner is Wisconsin president of Faith & Freedom Coalition.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
