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At a recent rally in Detroit on October 22, rapper Eminem made a surprise appearance in support of Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. Eminem delivered a short speech emphasizing the importance of civic engagement. "As most of you know, the city of Detroit and the whole state of Michigan mean a lot to me. And going into this election, the spotlight is on us more than ever, and I think it's important to use your voice, so I'm encouraging everybody to get out and vote," he said. He added that Harris "supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld."
After his speech, Eminem introduced former President Barack Obama, who took the stage to the beat of Eminem's famous track "Lose Yourself." Obama lightened the mood, joking, "I noticed my palms are sweaty," a lyric reference from the song.
The rally was part of a larger effort by Democrats to energize voters ahead of the upcoming election, where Michigan remains a crucial swing state. Obama, alongside other speakers, urged the crowd to vote, stressing the importance of democracy and expressing concern over the behavior of former President Donald Trump. "This is somebody who wants unchecked power," Obama stated.
The event also featured prominent local figures such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, NFL Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson, and Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin. Whitmer criticized Trump for his past remarks about Detroit, calling it a "developing" city. "He called Detroit a failure and a mess, proving he ain't firing on all cylinders," Whitmer quipped, defending the city's resilience.
Eminem's support for the Democratic ticket is no surprise. He previously endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020 and allowed his hit song "Lose Yourself" to be used in their campaign. His political engagement goes back even further, with the rapper publicly criticizing Trump and other Republicans over the years.
