The 2024 U.S. presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was marked by a stark contrast in the types of high-profile support each candidate received. The race highlighted a fascinating clash between the power of social media and tech billionaires versus the influence of entertainment superstars. On one side, Elon Musk, the owner of X threw his weight, wealth, and wit behind Trump. On the other hand, Harris garnered support from many celebrities and artists. This dichotomy raises intriguing questions about the nature of influence in modern (Gen-Z-era) political campaigns, and, from Trump’s win, whether the masses are listening more to social media than celebrities.
Elon Musk, known for his controversial and outspoken presence on social media, publicly endorsed and sponsored Donald Trump’s election campaign. As the owner of X, Musk wielded significant influence over one of the world’s largest social media platforms. This support manifested in several ways:
Direct Endorsement: Musk used his personal X account, with millions of followers, to voice support for Trump and criticize Harris.
Platform Policies: There were concerns about potential changes to X’s algorithms or content moderation policies that could favor pro-Trump content. He might have worked with Trump’s son Baron too
Elon Musk may have collaborated with Donald Trump’s son, Barron Trump, to create social media stunts such as viral TikTok videos featuring Trump serving McDonald’s fries, campaign videos highlighting his visit to Arlington National Cemetery, and leveraging endorsements from popular influencers like Jake and Logan Paul to engage younger voters. Musk’s knack for viral content and his understanding of social media dynamics likely contributed to the effectiveness of these efforts.
In addition to the above, the Trump campaign employed several other tactics to appeal to the common person and capitalize on Kamala Harris’s perceived missteps.
Trump’s campaign quickly seized on moments when Harris appeared to make mistakes or gaffes. For instance, when Harris made a comment that some interpreted as mocking a Christian supporter who was chanting Christian slogans with ‘You are the wrong rally’, Trump’s team rapidly amplified this across social media platforms and said: ‘Jesus is Lord!’ No wonder famous preachers Skip Heitzig, Andrew Wommack, and a cross-section of other Christians quickly congratulated Trump even before official results were announced. Some revealed that they had been offering prayers to the Trump Campaign.
Trump’s campaign consistently highlighted instances where he appeared more down-to-earth, such as his visit to a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, which garnered significant attention on social media.
All these, we suspected must have been Baron-Musk strategies.
Musk also provided substantial financial backing to the Trump Campaign to the tune of $100,000,000.
Musk’s status as a tech visionary lent credibility to Trump’s campaign among certain demographics, particularly those interested in innovation and entrepreneurship.
The combination of Musk’s personal wealth, control over a major social media platform, and his reputation as a tech innovator made him a powerful ally for the Trump campaign.
In contrast, Kamala Harris’s campaign was bolstered by an impressive array of celebrity endorsements, particularly from the entertainment industry. This star-studded support included:
Taylor Swift, whose endorsement reached her 283 million followers and led to a surge in voter registration.
Beyoncé, allowed her song “Freedom” to be used in Harris’s campaign.
John Legend, who performed at the Democratic National Convention.
Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, urged their followers to vote for Harris.
Ariana Grande, shared Biden’s endorsement of Harris on social media.
Megan Thee Stallion, performed at Harris’s campaign rally in Atlanta.
George Clooney, a major Democratic fundraiser expressed enthusiasm for Harris’s “historic quest”.
Oprah Winfrey, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in support of Harris.
Robert De Niro, narrated a campaign ad and participated in a “Paisans for Kamala” livestream.
Jamie Lee Curtis, called Harris a “fierce advocate for women’s rights and people of color”.
Other Notable Figures:
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Matt Damon, headlined a New York fundraiser for Harris.
Bruce Springsteen, called Trump “the most dangerous candidate for presidency in my lifetime” while endorsing Harris.
Over 165 visual artists, including Amy Sherald, Jeff Koons, and Shepard Fairey, donated works for an auction to support Harris’s campaign.
This diverse group of celebrities brought not only their star power but also their massive social media followings and cultural influence to Harris’s campaign.
The contrast between Musk’s support for Trump and the celebrity backing for Harris presents an interesting case study in modern political influence:
Reach and Demographics: While Musk’s influence through X potentially reached a broad, global audience, celebrity endorsements for Harris likely resonated more strongly with younger voters and specific demographic groups. Celebrity endorsements, especially from artists, should have been perceived as more authentic and emotionally resonant compared to the support of a controversial tech billionaire. But were they?
Platform Control vs. Cultural Influence: Musk’s ownership of X gave him direct control over a major communication platform, but celebrities collectively wielded significant cultural influence across various media.
Financial Impact: While Musk’s financial contributions were likely substantial, the combined fundraising power of numerous celebrities through events, auctions, and mobilizing their fan bases was also significant.
Media Coverage: Celebrity involvement generated extensive media coverage, potentially rivaling the attention given to Musk’s endorsement.
The Louder Voice?
Ultimately, the effectiveness of these different forms of support likely varied across different voter segments and regions. The election results suggest that both approaches had a significant impact, as the race was closely contested in many states.
Thus the presidential election highlighted the evolving nature of political influence in the digital age. The contrast between Elon Musk’s tech-centric support for Trump and the star-studded backing of Harris demonstrates the multifaceted nature of modern campaigning. While Musk’s influence through X represented the power of social media and tech billionaires, the celebrity support for Harris showcased the enduring impact of cultural icons.
Based on the election results and the debate analysis provided, it appears that Elon Musk’s support for Trump may have had a more significant impact than the entertainment industry’s backing of Kamala Harris. Despite Harris’s strong debate performance, Trump ultimately won the presidency.
Also worth noting that public sentiment towards the entertainment industry may have been negatively impacted by recent controversies, such as the Diddy saga. This could have potentially directed some voter wrath towards Harris, who was heavily supported by entertainment figures.
Despite these factors, the debate analysis suggests that Kamala Harris was indeed a more skilled debater than Donald Trump. Harris demonstrated a clear strategy, focusing on empathy, personal stories, and data-driven arguments. She effectively used body language and nonverbal cues to undermine Trump’s credibility and control the narrative. Harris also showed a strong command of foreign policy issues and maintained composure throughout the debate. In contrast, Trump’s debate performance was characterized by a more combative style, frequent interruptions, and a tendency to focus on himself rather than addressing voter concerns directly. He also struggled to maintain focus and present clear, forward-looking policies.
However, it’s important to note that debate performance doesn’t always translate directly to electoral success. Despite Harris’s superior debating skills, other factors such as policy positions, voter demographics, and broader campaign strategies ultimately influenced the election outcome– and of course money and social media!
