On the eve of Election Day, numerous celebrities came out to support Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign across different states, particularly in crucial battleground areas.
In Pennsylvania, the vice president’s event in Pittsburgh was a star-studded affair, featuring performances from notable artists such as Cedric the Entertainer, Katy Perry, and Andra Day. The day’s final rally in Philadelphia included appearances by DJ Cassidy, Fat Joe, and Ricky Martin, providing a festive atmosphere for the campaign.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about Harris’ celebrity endorsements, particularly taking aim at Beyoncé’s support. During his own rally in Pittsburgh, which coincided with Harris’ event, Trump criticized the singer’s involvement, reminiscing about her past appearance in Houston, where she shared the stage with Harris but didn’t perform. As he recounted the event, he noted the discontent among the crowd, leading to boos directed at the megastar.
Trump remarked, “Beyoncé would come in. Everyone’s expecting a couple of songs. There were no songs. There was no happiness,” underscoring his belief that Harris had missed an opportunity to engage her audience effectively. Despite Beyoncé not being a performer that day, she spoke passionately to the crowd alongside Kelly Rowland, drawing enthusiastic cheers instead.
Harris’ campaign had previously embraced Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” from the acclaimed album “Lemonade” as its anthem. In his critique, Trump suggested that Harris should have considered a different approach, akin to what Hillary Clinton did in 2016, by allowing Beyoncé to perform after her speech to maintain momentum and crowd engagement. He recalled the response during Clinton’s campaign event in Cleveland, where Beyoncé indeed performed just days before the election.
“They booed like hell, but the press didn’t play that,” Trump added, painting a vivid picture of the audience’s reaction. Insisting that his campaign relies more on policy than celebrity appeal, he stated, “We don’t need a star because we have policy. We have great policy.” However, he did take a moment at his rally to humorously acknowledge the presence of celebrities, including his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.
Harris’ campaign strategy included a series of performances in all seven key battleground states, culminating in a comprehensive get-out-the-vote livestream. Events in cities like Las Vegas featured artists such as Christina Aguilera and the duo Sofi Tukker, while in North Carolina, country music group Sugarland, comprised of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, took the stage to energize supporters.
