Has Taylor Swift Kept Her Word? Swifties Ponder Miss Americana’s Approach to Politics

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Taylor Swift was named Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” in 2023 for her significant influence on global events. Her Eras Tour, a worldwide stadium spectacle, shattered box office records and boosted local economies. With her voice reaching new heights, Swifties are eager for her to fulfill her promise to speak out more on political and social issues.

But if fans were expecting her to use her most recent concerts as a platform to promote her favorite candidates and causes, they just might have to wait for the next album to drop.

Swift kicked off the final leg of her Eras Tour with three sold-out shows at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. Over 63,000 fans gathered in the rain for her three-hour performance, ready to immerse themselves in a journey of her musical evolution.

In her first show after endorsing Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris for President, Swift chose not to speak up about the election or address any of the state's high-profile ballot initiatives, such as Amendment 4, which focuses on the right to abortion in—a choice that didn’t surprise many of her fans. 

This isn’t the first time Swift has endorsed a political candidate. In 2020, she tweeted her support for President Joe Biden in his race against then-President Donald Trump, along with a photo featuring her homemade cookies decorated with “Biden Harris 2020” icing.

The same year she endorsed President Biden, Swift released her Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana.” The film offers an intimate look at her evolution as an artist and the pressures of fame. However, its central theme revolves around her desire to be more vocal about politics. 

“I do feel like she’s held her word in regards to her speaking out, but I feel like she tends to fall behind in terms of how long she waits to address certain topics,” said Alexa Gonzalez, a student at the University of North Florida. 

Despite her intentions, Swift faced significant backlash for entering the political arena, and many felt that her activism ultimately fell short. Similarly, other fans think Swift takes too long to speak out on issues. 

“I was surprised that it took Taylor two whole months to endorse her, so I felt like the endorsement was a bit overdue. I’m still very happy that she eventually [did] because directly after that post, the number of visits to voter registration sites increased drastically,” said Nalini Persaud, a University of Central Florida student who was seeing Swift for the second time on the Eras Tour.

While some fans wish Swift were more outspoken, others understand the complexities of her situation.

“I feel like Taylor has absolutely held her word when it comes to speaking out,” said Bridgette Bach, a preschool teacher from Bradenton, Fla, who was seeing Taylor for the second time this weekend. “I’m sure a lot of fans wish she would speak out more, but with being in the public eye, it becomes a lot more dangerous, and seeing how the state of the world is today, I do think she is holding back a little bit for her safety.”

Swift’s more cautious approach today starkly contrasts her previously vocal stance during 2019 and 2020. While she may not identify as an activist, her current actions seem to contradict the central message of “Miss Americana,” and her advocacy during the "Lover" era, when she began to speak out more forcefully about LGBTQ+ rights and other social issues.

“I was not surprised that Taylor endorsed VP Harris,” said Mariana Valencia, a Swiftie for the last 15 years, while hiding from the rain on the ramps of the stadium. “Ever since Miss Americana, Taylor has been open about her disagreement with the right. I could already see Taylor going against him [Trump].”

In 2020, she actively encouraged her fans to engage with the political landscape. She used her platform to highlight critical topics and wrote songs like “You Need to Calm Down” and “The Man,” serving as anthems for equality.

However, Swift’s ‘activism’ peaked in 2020. Given her high profile, fans might expect her to speak out more. Though, it appears she has since taken a backseat on the efforts she once expressed interest in—despite the dedication of her fanbase.

 “I do wish Taylor spoke more on other important political issues, not to move people to the other side but to bring more awareness; it's not always about moving more people from the right to left but bringing awareness to the issues,” said Valencia.

After endorsing Harris, it wouldn’t have been surprising if her first shows back in the U.S. included verbal support. However, she said nothing. 

“I think that it’s a bit ridiculous how she made her political views front and center during the ‘Lover’ era, " said Persaud, referring to her 2019 album, “but has basically stopped all forms of political talk since then. So I'm confused how she could be so outspoken then, but doesn’t even try to continue to do that now.” 

In “Miss Americana,” she wrote a song called “Only the Young,” which is featured during the credits along with a scene where she talks about the political landscape in 2019. The song is a message to young voters, stating, in Swift’s own words: “Don’t lose hope…if you can just shift the power in your direction by being bold enough, then it won’t be like this forever.”

With issues like Amendment 4 on the Florida ballot, she had the opportunity to be bold and address important matters directly.

“I personally am glad she didn’t say anything just because I feel like it would be such a serious topic to be brought up and couldn’t possibly be fit in a two-minute time slot at a piano or around younger children who are unaware what abortion is,” said Bach.

While a concert may not be the first venue that comes to mind for sharing political ideals, artists like Hozier and The Chicks have used the stage to voice their political views.

Even artists closely linked to Swift, such as Lady Gaga and Florence Welch of Florence + The Machines, whom she brought on stage to perform their collab “Florida!!!,” have spoken out for and against social and political issues. 

“I did not necessarily expect her to say something, but I do wish she would have, especially because when I saw her in Tampa in 2023, she was very outspoken about the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. I feel like this would have been a good opportunity to bring up Amendment 4,” said Gonzalez.

Swift has crafted an environment during The Eras Tour that feels peaceful and whimsical, offering a three-hour escape from the stressors of life and politics. So, in the end, it doesn’t come as a surprise that she has only spoken out for her endorsement. 

“I feel like that would kill the fun,” said Persaud. “[But] I wish she spoke out more about social issues and political ideologies because she has such a huge devoted fan base.”