By Arianna Smith
Recently, a widely discussed topic is whether or not celebrities should be involved in politics or not. Some find it inappropriate and believe they shouldn’t put their beliefs on fans; others believe people are using a platform to express an importance. There are celebrities involved in acting, singing, and sports who are involved in supporting presidential candidates. Whether it be posting on social media or speaking at their rallies, there is a long list of celebrities showing their support for former President Donald Trump and presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
With today’s hyperfixation of celebrity culture, it is easy to overlook the vast impacts they have on our society. After an endorsement from the NELK Boys, Donald Trump’s approval rating rose dramatically, especially in the 18–24 range of young adults. Politics is, of course, about who you know, but it may have gone too far in some cases. By garnering support in a group that has a low voter turnout, endorsements like these can certainly sway the election.
The impact of celebrity endorsement is undeniable. Now the question arises: Is it moral? In my opinion, this is a very nuanced topic, but if we let the richest people in the world choose our officials, we will only have presidents who don’t want to benefit the average American person. Many billionaires have come out in their support for the former president. Many people are calling into question if Trump wants to assist the working class or rich people like himself. While people like Elon Musk could convince the voters that Trump wants to benefit only the rich, it only makes sense for him to interact with one of his biggest supporters. People in support of the Trump campaign tend to believe Kamala isn’t doing enough as vice president, which is why extensive research is so important.
Conversely, celebrities have their own rights and beliefs and should be allowed to have them. Just because they have a louder voice doesn’t mean we should silence it. Many businesses, houses, and other buildings around the world show the dedication they have to their favored political forerunners. Many social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have become a large part of celebrity endorsements. This can cause an influx of followers or a subtraction of followers, depending on your political views.
On the other hand, endorsements are a part of free speech. Putting any legislation toward discouraging or even removing that ability for celebrities would be impossible and even less moral. Endorsements can also be political tools that work opposite of the intended message. If someone everyone dislikes shares their opinions, it’s possible that the celebrity may actually lower the candidate’s results. I don’t believe in people writing things like, “You should stick to acting or singing.” Everyone has the right to free speech, even if you don’t agree with the opposing candidate.
Endorsements aren’t always a good thing, however. After the Taliban endorsed Trump, a large number of Americans left him behind at the polls. But, groups like the Taliban or other possible organizations have separate interests from the United States and thus should be disregarded.
So what can we do? The American public needs to remain extremely conscious of the biases that may arise from endorsement. As a society, we need to step away from allowing our elected officials’ ratings to be boosted or dropped by the will of one person. In a democratic republic, the people must think for themselves and elect a person truly exemplary of everyone. The smartest decision we can make as Americans is to elect who we think is best suited after our own research.
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Photo courtesy of Leah Abucayan.