When a Billion Followers Can't Change an Election

Listen now · 3:47

It's been a week since Donald Trump's stunning victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, and the silence from Hollywood's most vocal stars has been deafening.

Before the election, the usual celebrity suspects—Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, George Clooney, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Leonardo DiCaprio—were out in full force, urging their legions of fans to vote for Harris.

These celebrities, whose collective social media following surpasses a billion, thought their influence could tip the scales in Harris's favor. However, when the votes were counted, not only did Trump win the Electoral College, but he also secured a clear majority of the popular vote.

As Christian Dugan Ramirez reported for Fox News, PR expert Doug Eldridge suggested that this silence is strategic—a way for celebrities to avoid alienating their fans.

"Had it been closer, you might be hearing more fervent rebukes and calls to 'resist' from the celebrity class," Eldridge explained.

But Trump didn't just squeak by; he won convincingly. This time, celebrities face a harsh reality: a billion followers doesn't translate into political power at the ballot box.

Share

The Celebrity Ego Bruise

Think about it.

These people are used to being adored, worshipped, and even idolized. When they post on Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter), their fans flood their feeds with likes, comments, and shares.

They've been convinced by the echo chambers of Hollywood and social media that they're more than just entertainers; they're thought leaders who can shape public opinion.

So, imagine the blow to their egos when their fans—who they thought were hanging on to their every word—ignored them in the voting booth.

For stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, who can sell out stadiums in minutes and whose social media posts can reach hundreds of millions, it must be humiliating to realize that all that influence means nothing when persuading Americans to vote their way.

The Bubble They Can't Escape

It's clear that many celebrities live in a bubble, surrounded by sycophants who reinforce their worldview. When they endorsed Harris, they believed they were speaking for "the people." But the reality is that they were talking to their own narrow circles of influence.

The election results showed that celebrities may dominate the cultural conversation but are increasingly out of touch with everyday Americans. They were forced to face an uncomfortable truth: they do not wield the power they think they do.

While celebrities like Roseanne Barr and Rob Schneider have been unapologetically vocal in their support for Trump, the Hollywood elite are hiding behind their PR teams, hoping that fans will forget their failed endorsements.

The irony is palpable. The same stars who lectured us about bravery, courage, and standing up for what's right are now nowhere to be found.

Lessons Learned?

Perhaps Hollywood will learn a lesson from this election: having millions of followers doesn't mean you have millions of loyal voters. Americans don't want to be lectured by people who are insulated from the consequences of the policies they advocate.

They want leaders who understand their hardships, not celebrities living in million-dollar mansions.

So, as celebrities like Oprah, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift remain as mum as a silent movie, maybe it's time they recognized that their fans admire their talent, not their politics.

As this election has shown, the American people—not Hollywood's elite—ultimately decide the future of this nation.

Share

Leave a comment

Martin Mawyer is president of the Christian Action Network, which he founded in 1990. Located in Lynchburg, VA, CAN was formed as a non-profit educational organization to protect America’s religious and moral heritage. He is the author of several books, including You Are Chosen: Prepare to Triumph in a Fallen World.