Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has largely avoided making direct political endorsements, but that hasn't stopped speculation about his political views.
Why It Matters
Kelce is one of the NFL's most prominent players, with a growing cultural presence beyond football. His relationship with pop star Taylor Swift has amplified attention to his personal choices, including his political views.
Fans and media alike have dissected his past actions, such as supporting the COVID-19 vaccine campaign and participating in national anthem protests, to draw conclusions about his ideology.
What Are Travis Kelce's Political Views?
According to records reviewed by Newsweek, Kelce's voter registration remains listed as "none declared," indicating he has not officially aligned with any political party.
In November, Kelce made headlines when he "liked" an Instagram post endorsing Kamala Harris for president. The post was made by Amanda Santa, his manager Aaron Eanes's girlfriend.
While Kelce provided no direct commentary, social media users quickly took notice. Some viewed his engagement with the post as an endorsement, while others suggested it was simply an expression of support for a friend.
Kelce's past actions have led some observers to interpret his politics as left-leaning. Sports writer Andrew Holleran pointed to several instances that align with progressive causes, including participating in a COVID-19 vaccine campaign, collaborating with Bud Light when the brand faced conservative backlash and appearing in socially progressive comedy sketches on Saturday Night Live.
In one 2023 SNL sketch called "Straight Male Friend," Kelce portrayed a straight man offering low-effort, low-stakes companionship to a gay man, played by Bowen Yang. The parody subtly addressed themes of masculinity and emotional expression.
However, Kelce has refrained from making strong public statements on political candidates, even as his girlfriend, Swift, has been vocal. Swift endorsed Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, writing, "I've done my research, and I've made my choice."
What Did Travis Kelce Say About Donald Trump?
Kelce has been diplomatic when addressing political figures from both sides.
He was asked about President Trump attending the game during media day ahead of Super Bowl LIX. Rather than commenting on Trump's policies or past remarks about Swift, Kelce responded, "That's awesome. It's a great honor, I think you know, no matter who the president is, I know I'm excited because it's the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there—it's the best country in the world—and that's pretty cool."
Trump has not held back in his criticism of Swift. After she endorsed Harris, Trump said in an interview with Fox & Friends, "She's a very liberal person. She seems to always endorse a Democrat. And she'll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace."
Days later, Trump escalated his comments, posting on Truth Social, "I hate Taylor Swift."
What People Are Saying
Taylor Swift spoke out about Donald Trump in a 2019 interview with The Guardian: "[He's] gaslighting the American public into being like, 'if you hate the president, you hate America.'"
"We're a democracy—at least, we're supposed to be—where you're allowed to disagree, dissent, debate. I really think that he thinks this is an autocracy," Swift said.
What Happens Next
Whether Kelce chooses to state his politics publicly remains to be seen. For now, his actions continue to be examined as clues to his political leanings.
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