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Taylor Swift found a way to save face this week following backlash over publicly hugging Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, whose online support for former President Donald Trump garnered a public thank-you from him.

Earlier this week, the 34-year-old pop star caught some heat from fans after she was photographed hugging Mahomes at the U.S. Open. Though their reunion squashed rumors of a rift between the two friends, it also called Swift’s political values into question, as before Tuesday night, her thoughts on the 2024 presidential candidates remained unknown.

That all changed after Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris’ first debate.

Almost immediately after it ended, Swift wrote in a lengthy Instagram post that she wanted to be “very transparent” about her voting plans for the November election, after researching and watching the Republican and Democratic nominees exchange words.

“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift finally revealed, after weeks of speculation. “I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”

The singer concluded her caption by signing it, “Childless Cat Lady,” alongside a photo with her cat — a nod to Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance’s dismissive viral remark.

The swift timing of Swift’s political declaration after the debate was almost too convenient for fans to ignore. Though it may have smoothed over Swifties’ doubts about her allegiances following criticism of her and Mahomes’ embrace, it also raised a tiny red flag.

Others accused Swift of aligning her post with the debate’s conclusion to maximize the buzz it’d garner.

Of course, some fans also praised the singer’s “perfect timing” and supportive message after Harris emerged as the resounding winner of the debate.

MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell called Swift’s backing of Harris “the most important celebrity endorsement we’ve ever seen in a presidential campaign,” second for Harris only to President Joe Biden’s. But that begs the question: just how powerful is a celebrity endorsement in the world of politics? And more importantly, how much will Swift’s support bolster the Harris-Walz ticket come November?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a U.S. Government Services Administration spokesperson said Swift’s social media post drove over 300,000 people to vote.gov via a link she shared on her Instagram Stories.

Only time will tell if those numbers actually translate to votes for Harris or Trump. However, Swift finally drawing her line in the sand will surely raise the stakes in this upcoming election.

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