Last Updated on February 25, 2025 by Mrunal & Jiten
News | US Politics
Although the US election has long since concluded, and as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term in the White House, more prominent figures have publicly expressed their support for him — sometimes through financial contributions.
That list now includes Apple chief executive Tim Cook, who reportedly donated $1 million (£820,000) to Mr Trump’s inauguration committee, according to Axios.
He is not the only major tech leader to do so. Other financial contributions have come from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos via Amazon, and Meta, as technology company leaders appear keen to curry favour with the incoming administration.
Mr Trump also maintains a close relationship with tech billionaire Elon Musk, even appointing him as co-leader of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Several other celebrities and well-known public figures have also supported the incoming president.
Here’s a rundown of the stars that backed his bid to return to the White House.
Dr Phil McGraw publicly endorsed the Republican ticket while speaking at a Madison Square Garden campaign rally for Mr Trump.
During the rally on October 27, Dr McGraw said he was “not here just to stand up for Donald J Trump. Lord knows, he doesn’t need me to stand up for him. He’s tough as an old army boot.
“He’s got lots of enemies, different groups that are scared and, between them, they have impeached him, indicted him, raided him, railroaded him, shot him and sued him. And where is he? He is still standing.”
Hollywood star Mel Gibson is reportedly said to have voted for Mr Trump. When asked about the election before voting day, the actor said: “I don’t think it’s going to surprise anyone who I’ll vote for,” according to US entertainment website TMZ.
He said voting for Mr Trump would be “a pretty good guess” and added: “I know what it’ll be like if we let her [Kamala Harris] in and that ain’t good. Miserable track record, appalling track record. No policies to speak of. And she’s got the IQ of a fence post.”
Kanye West has been a vocal supporter of Mr Trump and met him in the Oval Office in 2018.
Last year, the rapper renewed his support for the president-elect and when asked if he would vote Republican, West told reporters: “Yeah, of course. It’s Trump all day.”
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star Hulk Hogan spoke at the Republican National Convention on July 18 2024. He reflected on the assassination attempt Mr Trump had faced just days earlier.
He told the crowd: “What happened last week … when they took a shot at my hero … they tried to kill the greatest president of the United States. Enough was enough.
“And I’ve even, like I said, body-slammed giants in the middle of the ring. And I know tough guys but, let me tell you something, brother, Donald Trump is the toughest of them all.”
Hogan then posed with Mr Trump later on the campaign trail and proudly displayed the picture on social media.
Model Amber Rose, who was critical of Mr Trump, endorsed the president-elect during a speech on July 15, 2024, at the Republican National Convention.
Rose said she believes Mr Trump and his supporters are her people because they love all people “whether you’re black, white, gay or straight”.
Professional boxer and influencer Jake Paul has also aligned himself with Mr Trump.
“To survive an assassination attempt by mere millimetres then stop your security so you can raise your fist in defiance of death is the most badass thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Former pop star Holly Valance has raised millions for the Trump campaign. The Australian-born actress and singer, who found fame in Neighbours before her hit single Kiss Kiss, and her billionaire husband, Nick Candy are active in right-wing circles.
She hosted a Chelsea bash for the Trump campaign in June 2024 — believed to be its biggest fundraising event outside the US. The event, attended by Donald Trump Jr, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and boxer Derek Chisora, is believed to have raised more than £1.6m for Mr Trump’s re-election bid.
Billy Ray Cyrus has frequently supported Mr Trump — even when the president-elect has publicly criticised his daughter, pop superstar Miley.
During a rally in July, Mr Trump said to the crowd: “Billy Ray Cyrus is here. Where is Billy Ray?
“He’s around here someplace, and he’s great … He’s a conservative guy. I said, ‘How did you get such a liberal daughter? How did that happen?’”
Billy Ray also performed at the funeral for Corey Comperatore, a Trump supporter who died in the line of fire at the Pennsylvania rally where an assassination attempt on the former president occurred.
Social media personality Hall, who has more than 20 million followers on TikTok, announced after the attempted assassination that Mr Trump “is my president”.
He has also donated money to Mr Trump and other Republican candidates and organisations, according to campaign finance tracking group Open Secrets.
White’s friendship with Mr Trump dates back to at least 2001 — and the failed assassination attempt on the president-elect seemed to reinforce White’s support for his re-election.
At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 18, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president described Mr Trump as a “fighter”.
“I know President Trump is a fighter. I’ve been saying this since 2015. Now, look at what’s happened over the last 10 years. We have all seen it with our own eyes. I’m in the tough guy business, and this man is the toughest, most resilient human being that I have ever met in my life,” he said.
“We all know he doesn’t need this. This guy’s got a great life, he has a beautiful family, and he has achieved everything that you could possibly achieve in life.
“I know President Trump is literally putting his life on the line for something bigger than himself. And he’s willing to risk it all because he loves this country.”
Mr Trump has previously been White’s guest at multiple special events.
Sylvester Stallone, who appeared at the America First Policy Institute Gala at Mar-a-Lago on November 14, is another recent supporter of Mr Trump.
The Rocky actor compared the presidential-elect to his famous boxing character and the country’s founding father, George Washington.
“When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was going to change the world,” the 78-year-old said. “Cause without him, you could imagine what the world would look like. Guess what? We got the second George Washington. Congratulations.”
Kid Rock is perhaps one of Mr Trump’s most vocal supporters in the music industry. Before performing in the Republican candidate’s honour at the RNC in July, the musician called Mr Trump “our tried and true, red, white and blue, 100 per cent American bada‑‑ president” in a video on social media.
Before that, he discussed his support of Mr Trump in an interview with Rolling Stone.
“You think I like Trump because he’s a nice guy?” Rock said. “I’m not electing the deacon of a church. That motherf–ker likes to win. He likes to cheat in his f–king golf game. I want that guy on my team. I want the guy who goes, ‘I’m going to fight with you.’”
On an episode of his self-hosted Stay Free with Russell Brand podcast last June, the contentious British actor and comedian, 49, told listeners that if “you care about freedom, I don’t know how you could do anything other than vote for Donald Trump for precisely the reasons that they claim that you can’t.”
Other famous Mr Trump supporters include:
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