Star quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, has made known his decision to refrain from endorsing any presidential candidates in the forthcoming election. This announcement comes amid efforts to involve him and his wife, Brittany, in political discourse.
This revelation from the three-time Super Bowl winner emerges in a time of numerous celebrity endorsements and political maneuvering as the election season for 2024 gains momentum.
While addressing the press on Wednesday, September 11, prior to a practice session for the Sunday game against Cincinnati, Mahomes expressed his intent to maintain political neutrality through his platform. “I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate or do whatever, either way,” Mahomes stated.
Instead of endorsing candidates, the quarterback has pledged to motivate his followers and fans to engage in civic duties. “I think my place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family,” he continued.
Mahomes’ declarations were made following former President Donald Trump’s praise of Brittany Mahomes as a “big Trump fan” during a call-in interview with Fox News. This came on the heels of pop icon Taylor Swift endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency. Swift, who is in a relationship with Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce and is close to the Mahomes family, made this public endorsement a day before Mahomes’ press address.
Unfazed by Trump’s comments about his wife, Mahomes, renowned for his calm demeanor, dismissed them. “I can’t let that affect how I operate or how me and Brittany operate and what we do in the community and how we try to help people,” Mahomes explained.
Speculation regarding Brittany Mahomes’ political inclination started when she reportedly liked one of Trump’s Instagram posts. Nevertheless, she has yet to officially endorse any candidate, and Patrick Mahomes’ recent comments indicate that the couple wishes to keep their political opinions private.
Mahomes has a track record of advocating for voter participation without endorsing any specific party or candidate. In 2020, he was instrumental in transforming Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs’ home ground, into a polling station. His dedication to promoting voter registration and participation is consistent with his broader community outreach efforts.
Mahomes’ position of political neutrality contrasts with the growing trend of celebrity endorsements in presidential campaigns. For instance, Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Harris has had a considerable impact. Swift’s Instagram post encouraging her followers to register to vote reportedly directed over 400,000 visitors to the vote.gov website in a single day.
Swift’s support for Harris was accompanied by high praise for the vice president. The singer described Harris as a “steady-handed, gifted leader” who will “fight for the rights and causes” she believes in. Swift also voiced concerns about the propagation of misinformation, including a false AI-generated endorsement of Donald Trump that had been circulating.
Responding to Swift’s endorsement, the Trump campaign characterized her as a “very liberal person” who will “probably pay a price for it in the marketplace.” However, a contingent of Swift’s fans, referred to as “Swifties for Kamala,” has already rallied in support of the Harris-Walz ticket.
As the 2024 election draws closer, the influence of celebrity endorsements and the effect of high-profile individuals on voter behavior remain hot topics. While some celebrities, like Swift, use their fame to endorse specific candidates, others, like Mahomes, choose a neutral stance, emphasizing democratic participation instead.
