Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce is facing criticism from some Democrats in the wake of the recent presidential election. The election results, announced early Thursday morning, saw Donald J. Trump defeat Kamala Harris in the race to secure the required 270 electoral college votes. Despite being politically outspoken in the past, Kelce, 35, has yet to make a public statement regarding the outcome of the 2024 election.
Kelce, who is rumored to lean left politically—much like his girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift—has been notably silent about the election results. Instead, he took to his Instagram account on Wednesday, sharing a post with a football theme that left some Democrats feeling that the timing was “tone deaf.”
“Arrowhead at night ????,” Kelce captioned a photo of Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ home field, glowing under the stadium lights.
The seemingly harmless post didn’t sit well with some, who felt it was inappropriate to celebrate football just hours after Kamala Harris lost to Trump. Several Democrats took to social media to express their disappointment in Kelce for posting about football rather than acknowledging the election.
“Read the room, Travis,” one fan commented, suggesting that the Chiefs’ tight end should have shown more awareness of the political climate. Another added, “Travis, please not right now, we’re mourning,” expressing the emotional reaction some Harris supporters were feeling.
However, Kelce also found himself with plenty of defenders who argued that he had every right to focus on his career and post whatever he wanted. Many fans took to social media to support Kelce, insisting that his post about football had nothing to do with politics.
“If you are upset, ok fine. Life goes on. Stop being dramatic and expecting the whole world to stop just because you got your feelings hurt. It is pathetic,” wrote one user. “I’m all for feelings and validation, but MY GOODNESS. Are you so selfish and pitiful that you think everyone should cry and be distraught over an election? Get over it. The end. This is an NFL player’s page, he posted about FOOTBALL. Imagine. Sorry he didn’t ask your permission first.”
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Another supporter added, “Are there rules as to when he should or should not post about football on his football page? The man plays football and posts about football. It’s his job to play football and choose a day, any day he wants to post about it.”
While Kelce has yet to publicly react to the election results, his girlfriend Taylor Swift was very vocal in her support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz leading up to the November 5 election.
Swift took to her massive platform to endorse the Democratic candidates, and her political stance was clear. In contrast, Kelce remained mostly quiet on the subject, though his previous comments and actions have led many to believe he shares a similar political leaning.
As the controversy over his social media post continues, it’s unclear whether Kelce will address the election results or the backlash he’s received. For now, the three-time Super Bowl-winning tight end appears focused on the task at hand—leading the Chiefs to another successful season.
The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to face the Denver Broncos this Sunday, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. E.T.
With the pressure of maintaining their strong standing in the league, Kelce’s focus seems firmly on football, and it remains to be seen if he will engage further in the political conversation that has been swirling around him.
