Tim Walz Wore Taylor Swift-Inspired Friendship Bracelets During VP Debate: ‘Grateful to Hope for the Lucky Charm’

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz brought a touch of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour energy to Tuesday’s vice presidential debate, sporting Swiftie-style friendship bracelets gifted by his daughter, Hope. In a social media post the following day, Walz shared a close-up photo of the bracelets, writing, “Nothing is more important in my life than being a dad. Grateful to Hope for the lucky charm before the debate last night.”

The bracelets, a playful nod to the trend Swift’s fans embraced during her recent tour, included two special messages: one reading “Coach,” a nod to Walz’s former role as a high school football coach, and another with “Joyful Warrior,” a phrase Vice President Kamala Harris has used to describe both herself and her running mate. Walz’s daughter, 23-year-old Hope, gave him the bracelets as a good luck charm before the debate, and the gesture resonated with the governor throughout the evening. The vice presidential candidate’s bracelets also carried symbolic weight, as Taylor Swift has recently become a vocal supporter of the Harris-Walz ticket in the 2024 presidential election. Shortly after the Harris-Trump debate in September, Swift took to social media to publicly endorse Harris and Walz, praising them for championing causes she holds dear, including LGBTQ+ rights, women’s reproductive rights, and other progressive issues.

Swift’s endorsement has sparked a wave of media attention, especially after she debunked AI-generated images falsely claiming she supported former President Donald Trump. In response to the spread of misinformation, Swift reiterated her support for the Harris-Walz campaign, saying, “The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”

Meanwhile, former President Trump, known for his quick responses to public figures, downplayed Swift’s endorsement by expressing his preference for Brittany Mahomes, the wife of NFL star Patrick Mahomes, over Swift, while later posting, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT” on social media, further escalating the attention around Swift’s political influence. Walz’s decision to wear the Swiftie-inspired bracelets offered a lighthearted yet meaningful personal touch to the debate, as he continues to be a vocal supporter of progressive causes, aligning with the pop icon’s values.