5 months ago
23
Joe Biden is banking on Hollywood's A-list to help propel him to victory in Nov, but their star power has yielded a mixed bag for the embattled President. Big-name actors and musicians, from Robert De Niro to Barbara Streisand, have enticed donors to back Biden's re-election effort but there's little evidence they've energized their fans to come out in support of him.
Meanwhile, a cadre of younger stars have yet to publicly back Biden in his race against Republican Donald Trump.
Biden's team has struggled to make endorsements stick this year, especially among young people displeased with his handling of the Israel-Hamas war and other issues. The toxic nature of the nation's political debate may also be keeping celebrities on the sidelines. "There is a difference between motivating donors and motivating voters," said Aubrey Montgomery, president of Democratic consulting firm Rittenhouse Political Partners.
Arguably the two biggest US musicians - Beyonce, a vocal supporter of Obama, and Taylor Swift - have yet to endorse Biden this year. Swift has a massive following with younger voters that has grown as she toured at sold-out stadiums over the past year.
Still, Biden's Hollywood support has helped him rack up a cash advantage against Trump - albeit one the former president has started to close. DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg is Biden's campaign co-chair and has leveraged his relationships into financial support. Director Steven Spielberg is helping with messaging efforts for the Democratic National Convention in August.
Some celebrity interactions have fallen flat and failed to generate the viral moments Biden's campaign is seeking. De Niro's fiery denunciation of Trump outside the Manhattan courthouse where the Republican was on trial earned plaudits from Biden supporters but was mocked by others.
Trump has also made inroads with celebrities, posting his first video to TikTok this month alongside Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.
Trump has already amassed more followers and likes than Biden's campaign account, which debuted in Feb.
Trump in May held a rally in the Bronx, New York and invited rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow in an attempt to connect with Black voters. "The only people in America who support Joe Biden's failing campaign are elitist Hollywood celebrities," Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
