Eminem electrified the crowd at a Detroit rally for the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign, kicking off the event with his 2010 hit “Not Afraid” before addressing the audience and introducing former President Barack Obama.
“I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution of what people will do if you make your opinion known. I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld,” the rapper said.
“I’m here tonight for a couple of important reasons.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, please”, he added.
Following Eminem’s passionate address, Obama stepped onto the stage to the familiar strains of “Lose Yourself.” In a playful moment, he joined in on the opening lines, joking, “I thought Eminem was going to perform, and I was going to jump out. Love me some Eminem.”
The rally served as a key event in the final stretch of the campaign, featuring speeches from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and notable figures such as former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin.
Eminem’s long-standing support for the Democratic Party is well documented. In 2020, he endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket through a campaign ad that featured “Lose Yourself.” He has also been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, labeling him a “racist” during his 2017 freestyle performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Last year, he further distanced himself from the GOP by requesting that candidate Vivek Ramaswamy refrain from using his music at campaign events.
During the rally, Barack Obama and other Democratic leaders criticised Trump’s recent comments about Detroit, where he referred to the city as “developing.” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer responded sharply, saying, “He called Detroit a failure and a mess, proving he ain’t firing on all cylinders. He doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about. Keep Detroit out of his mouth.”
Eminem’s rally appearance is part of a broader Democratic strategy, with music legend Bruce Springsteen also set to join upcoming events in Georgia and Pennsylvania.
