Rapper Cardi B weighed in on the stunning outcome of this year’s US presidential election. An open supporter of Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the US, Cardi had been fairly confident she could marshal her millions-strong army of die-hard fans behind Harris’s left-wing agenda. Then, the votes were counted, and Donald Trump took up residence in the Oval Office for the second time as the 47th President of the United States. The move sent Cardi and her fans into overdrive, firing up a very active debate on social media about celebrities and their involvement in politics.
In the past three years, Cardi B-born Belcalis Almánzar-has become one of the most polarizing voices in American politics. Characterized by her straight-shooting attitude, Cardi once showed little interest in political matters. She even claimed in interviews that the political landscape often confused and discouraged her.
But over time, that changed; she spoke out on issues which she, at least, was most familiar with. Inspired by Harris’s stance on women’s rights, economic reform, and access to health care, she soon found herself appreciating Harris’ campaign enough to officially endorse the Vice President going into the election. For Cardi, Harris’ views echoed her experiences as a woman and a mother from a working-class background.
“I want somebody in office who represents what I been through,”
Cardi explained in an Instagram post on why she made that choice. The endorsement got praise from some of her fans but a lot of criticism from conservatives who viewed her support as misguided.
When the election results went public, an incensed Cardi took to social media, fuming not only at Trump’s victory but even more so at the backlash she received for her political endorsement. In the now-viral post, subtitles read “I hate y’all bad” as she expressed anger at critics questioning her support for Harris. While fans piled in to give backing, Cardi’s post also attracted criticism from those who believed its tone was too aggressive and unconstructive.
Her bold, direct approach could hardly be considered new to her followers, who are used to Cardi’s candid takes on everything from her music to her views on social justice. But at least the post-election, especially her blunt dismissal of detractors, struck a nerve among some followers who felt her reaction only heightened divisiveness in the aftermath of the election.
Adding fuel to the fire, tech mogul Elon Musk called out several comments on the discussion, taking to X, formerly Twitter, to slam Cardi’s endorsement. Naming her a “puppet” for the Harris campaign, in his post Musk rolled out the tired trope that Cardi’s support was being handled by her political handlers and didn’t stem from her own knowledge of the issues. Musk’s critique drew sharp responses, with Cardi ultimately responding in one now-legendary rejoinder that epitomized the gulf of human experience between her and Musk’s wealth and privilege.
“Y’all love to talk about struggles you never had to live through,”
Cardi responded in a post, contrasting her working-class upbringing with Musk’s billionaire status. She termed Musk’s critique “out of touch” with Americans’ everyday struggles, especially since some, like her, struggled to make ends meet before making it big. Cardi was also not reluctant to express her stand against Trump’s policies, particularly those that touched on women’s rights and health care.
A long-time advocate for accessible health care and women’s autonomy, Cardi criticized what she termed “hypocritical” in the conservative approaches toward these subjects. “They talk about freedom and independence but then try to control women’s choices,” she said in a recent live stream. Her remarks about Trump’s record raised a firestorm of kudos and outrage where some praised her for taking a principled stand, while for others, she went beyond the limits of an entertainer.
Predictably, fan reaction to Cardi B’s post-election comments has been mixed. On one side, fans praised her for using her platform to speak out on issues that resonate with millions of Americans. Many supporters argued that Cardi’s perspective as a self-made success story hailing from working-class neighborhoods gave her a uniquely relevant voice in the political conversation. “She’s real. She’s one of us,” read one supportive comment from a follower on Instagram.
On the other hand, some commentators were frustrated with Cardi’s approach and believed celebrities should never get involved in politics. To some, given the sharp exchanges between her and Musk and the incendiary social media responses, it was a feeling that Cardi’s strident opinions had only perpetuated the polarization that has defined American politics over the past few years.
