Americans are increasingly frustrated with how politics has seeped into every facet of their lives, yet many find it challenging to disengage from it.
A recent POLITICO Poll reveals that about 60 percent of Americans feel politics is omnipresent in areas where it shouldn’t be. This sentiment is shared by both Republicans and Democrats, with majorities from both parties agreeing that the political views of celebrities are becoming less significant.
However, this changes when celebrities’ opinions align with their own.
Those who wish to see politics removed from daily life often find themselves swayed when celebrities or athletes share opinions that resonate with them. For instance, nearly 70 percent of voters who supported Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 say they would view a movie star more favorably if they criticized President Donald Trump. Conversely, nearly 60 percent of Trump supporters would have a better impression of a celebrity who endorsed him.
This dynamic is even more pronounced among staunch partisans, who are more likely to expect that their favorite celebrities and institutions express their political views compared to those with moderate views.
This creates a complex and often contradictory landscape where voters engage with politics in daily life, challenging celebrities and local leaders to navigate the intertwining of culture and politics.
Celebrities and athletes are increasingly vocal about issues like ICE crackdowns and racial equity on global platforms. Prominent podcasts such as the Joe Rogan Experience and Call Her Daddy have featured politicians like Trump and Harris. Additionally, actors like George Clooney have been pivotal in urging Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race.
“Everyone should always speak up for what they believe in,” said Jordan C. Brown, a Democratic strategist based in Los Angeles who collaborates with both campaigns and celebrities. “But there is a cost, and I think I would just caution people of the cost.”
The outcome is an American populace unsure of what it truly desires, weary of politics pervading their lives yet still swayed by partisan remarks.
Voters still care about where celebrities and institutions stand
Both Harris and Trump supporters acknowledge that politics has encroached into inappropriate areas, although Trump backers are more troubled by this than Harris supporters.
For instance, 52 percent of Trump supporters believe there is excessive politics in sports, compared to 31 percent of Harris supporters. In various daily life domains — such as sports, movies, television, and music — a plurality of Harris voters consider the current level of politics acceptable.
However, few Americans express a desire for more politics in these areas.
Some Americans assert that politics in other realms does not affect them. A plurality of Harris supporters — 38 percent — claim it doesn’t matter if athletes, for instance, discuss politics.
Nevertheless, the poll indicates that both Republicans and Democrats are indeed influenced by statements from businesses and celebrities.
Significant majorities report that the political statements of celebrities, athletes, or even local grocery store owners affect their perception of these individuals. Approximately one in five people admit to changing their opinion on a political issue because a celebrity voiced an opinion on it.
The poll reveals a clear pattern about when these statements have the most impact: Americans respond favorably to opinions that reflect their own beliefs.
Most 2024 Trump supporters would view an athlete more positively if their statements supported the president’s agenda, such as “We need to crack down on the crime running rampant in our cities.” Conversely, over 60 percent of Harris supporters would have a more favorable view of athletes advocating for policies like “We need to tax the richest people in this country.” This sentiment holds even among voters on both sides who believe there is “too much” politics in sports.
This phenomenon is well-known, according to Shaun Harper, a professor at the University of Southern California who studies political activism among athletes. He described the “‘I don’t want politics in my sports unless they’re my politics’” mindset as “anti-democratic.”
“It is unfair to athletes and to our democracy to expect them to only selectively leverage their platforms and their free speech rights,” he said.
The most politically engaged voters are the ones who care most
The most partisan individuals show more interest in the opinions of local, religious, and cultural leaders compared to those with moderate views.
Over one-third of Trump voters who identify as “MAGA Republicans,” the president’s most dedicated supporters, believe religious institutions should clearly communicate their views to their followers, compared to 22 percent of non-MAGA Trump voters.
MAGA Trump voters are also more inclined to act on political differences: Forty-three percent say they would avoid buying from a business with differing political views, compared to 27 percent of non-MAGA Trump voters and roughly 30 percent of all adults.
On the Democratic side, about one-third of self-identified “strong” Democrats believe athletes should openly share their political views, double the 16 percent of “not strong” Democrats who agree.
Additionally, 36 percent of “strong” Democrats think schools and universities should disclose their political views to students, compared to 22 percent of “not strong” Democrats.
Third-party voters or those who didn’t vote are even less interested in politics infiltrating their daily lives: only 12 percent believe celebrities should express political views to their fans, and less than 10 percent have changed their opinion on a political issue because of a celebrity’s stance.
Celebrities are already less willing to engage with partisan politics
The poll highlights a continuing debate as stars and campaign strategists ponder whether — and how — to involve celebrities in politics.
Navigating this without harming their careers, amidst the complexities of voters’ and fans’ partisan divisions, is challenging. As some people claim to prefer neutrality while secretly wanting their favorite celebrities’ politics to align with their own, and others demand political engagement, celebrities must decide which group to risk upsetting.
Democrats have leveraged celebrity endorsements and surrogates significantly since Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Two years ago, Harris received substantial support for her presidential campaign from numerous VIPs: Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland attended her rally in Houston, Taylor Swift endorsed the vice president to her millions of social media followers, and Lady Gaga performed at her election-eve rally in Philadelphia.
However, this backfired for the celebrities when Harris lost, said Todd Hawkins, a Democratic strategist in Los Angeles.
“What we saw was the biggest backlash as a result of losing, folks saying celebrities should not tell us what to do, no one cares about what they think,” he said.
Concerns about the partisan divide continue to make many celebrities hesitant to engage in high-profile political activities — a sentiment echoed by actor Jennifer Lawrence in a 2025 interview with the New York Times, when asked about speaking out against Trump.
“I don’t really know if I should,” she said. “But as we’ve learned, election after election, celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for. So then what am I doing? I’m just sharing my opinion on something that’s going to add fuel to a fire that’s ripping the country apart.”
Last year, Selena Gomez, an actor and entrepreneur, shared — then deleted — an emotional video about immigration crackdowns, which drew criticism from the right. Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Hess faced backlash from Trump after expressing that representing the U.S. in the Games “brings up mixed emotions” following the shooting of Alex Pretti and Renée Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
“They’re very concerned, they’re scared as hell, but they were scared last year more than anything,” Hawkins said of celebrities. “I still see trepidation on how and what they will do to be engaged.”
The intertwining of politics and pop culture is unlikely to fade soon, said Brown, the Democratic strategist in Los Angeles: “There’s that phrase: the only thing Hollywood and D.C. love more than themselves are each other.”
