Eminem Takes Political Stance, Set To Open Kamala Harris' Detroit Rally

Rap legend Eminem is stepping into the political spotlight, joining Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail.

The Detroit native will be the opener at Harris' rally on Tuesday, October 22, in his hometown, where he will introduce former President Barack Obama.

Known for his hard-hitting lyrics and cultural influence, Eminem’s decision to publicly support Kamala Harris just two weeks before Election Day sends a powerful message.

The Detroit native is set to open Harris' upcoming rally in his hometown, taking a stance in the political world, per CNN. However, according to reports, fans hoping for a surprise performance from Eminem might be disappointed.

Instead, the rapper is expected to welcome former president Barack Obama to Detroit and share his thoughts on the presidential race.

With Michigan currently polling in a tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, having one of the state’s most influential voices backing Harris is a major win. Eminem, who famously grew up in the Motor City, is set to encourage Michiganders to cast their votes for Harris.

Eminem has shown his support for Kamala Harris for years. Following the 2020 election, he endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket in a black-and-white campaign ad featuring his iconic track "Lose Yourself."

While many celebrities have voiced their backing for Harris, Eminem’s influence brings something special to the table, especially in Michigan, a key state the campaign is fighting hard to win. His star power offers the Harris campaign a much-needed boost as the election approaches.

Plus, Eminem’s opinions on Donald Trump are widely recognized; he has accused the former president of “brainwashing” his supporters. His critique of Trump gained significant attention and went viral during the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards.

Eminem is not the only recent artist to speak out about politics. 36-year-old Lizzo, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, stirred up controversy by suggesting that if Harris were elected president, America would resemble her hometown of Detroit.

She made the statement while appearing with the Democratic nominee at Western International High School in Detroit, sparking a heated debate on social media.

"I'm so proud to be from this city, you know they say if Kamala wins then the whole country will be like Detroit," she said. "Proud like Detroit, resilient like Detroit. The same Detroit that innovated the auto industry and the music industry. Put some respect on Detroit's name."

Her comments seemingly responded to Republican nominee Donald Trump's warning to America about the potential consequences of a Kamala Harris administration. "The whole country is going to be like, you want to know the truth? It'll be like Detroit." he said, per Newsweek. "Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she's your president. You're going to have a mess on your hands."

She later encouraged people to get out and vote, telling the Detroit crowd, “If your vote didn’t matter, then voter suppression would not exist. If your vote didn’t matter, they wouldn’t discourage young people from going to the polls."

Kamala Harris had previously responded to Donald Trump's comments about Detroit while campaigning in Las Vegas. In her remarks, she defended the city, highlighting its resilience and the strength of its people.

"My opponent, Donald Trump, yet again has trashed another great American city when he was in Detroit, which is just a further piece of evidence on a very long list of why he is unfit to be president of the United States," she said on October 10.

A host of celebrities have come forward to support Harris and the Democratic ticket, but few can match Eminem's iconic influence, especially in Detroit. As Harris strives to strengthen the blue wall in her tightly contested race against Trump, Eminem’s backing carries significant weight.

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to record an interview with Telemundo at 4:30 p.m. ET, targeting undecided Latino voters, with that segment scheduled to air on Wednesday. She is also set to tape an interview with NBC’s Hallie Jackson, which will air at 6:30 p.m. ET on October 22 on NBC News.