US Elections | Celebs swaying votes?

Voting in the US proceeded smoothly as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris slugged it out in their bid to occupy the Oval Office.

As the world waits with bated breath to find out who will become America’s 47th President, young South Africans expressed their misgivings about the blurred lines between pop culture and politics. 

This follows the candidates’ decision to enlist the help of celebrity pals for endorsement during the campaigning season. 

Kamala Harris secured the backing from influential figures like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and LeBron James, while Donald Trump has garnered support from Elon Musk and Kanye West.

The trend has sparked debate about the impact of celebrity culture on the US electoral process. 

Some young people believe that this engages younger voters and makes politics more accessible, while others believe that it trivialises the electoral process, distracting from policy discussions. 

“People don’t actually know what they’re voting for. You only vote for one party because Beyoncé supports that, but you don’t really know what you’re standing for,” said one young person. 

“The way they campaign is very manipulative. Now you have celebrities endorsing certain candidates and making politics pop culture,” said another. 

And speculation continues on who will take over the baton from Joe Biden and lead the world’s superpower, political analyst, Professor Musa Xulu, says this election results will have far-reaching implications for the US and the world. 

As concerns mount over escalating tensions in the Middle East, Xulu says it’s unlikely that the next US President will publicly condemn the war in Gaza due to America’s strong alliance with Israel.

Both candidates have expressed support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Hamas conflict, but Xulu doubts either candidate will initiate significant intervention, given Trump’s interests in oil and the Democrats’ weaknesses on various issues.

Kamala Harris has promised to address economic inequality, climate change, and abortion rights, which have been a contentious issue. 

On the other hand, Donald Trump has pledged to continue his “America First” agenda, focusing on border security, job creation, and tax cuts. 

While South Africans are divided on who should win the US presidential election, they believe the incoming administration will mark the beginning of a new era in US politics.