Eminem made a surprise appearance at a rally for the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign in Detroit, introducing former President Barack Obama to the stage in his hometown.
The event featured speeches from prominent figures including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, ex-Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Michigan Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin, Detroit City Councilmember Mary Sheffield, and Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow. Eminem’s brief but impassioned speech set the stage for Obama, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election.
“Detroit! What up doe!” Eminem greeted the crowd, entering to his hit song “Not Afraid” from 2010. “I wrote down a few things I wanted to say. I’m here tonight for a couple of important reasons. The city of Detroit and the state of Michigan mean a lot to me. As we head 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. People shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people fear retribution for speaking their mind. I believe Vice President Harris supports a future where these freedoms will be protected. And here to tell you more about that, President Barack Obama.”
Obama then took the stage to the sound of Eminem’s iconic “Lose Yourself,” even rapping along to the song’s opening bars. “I was feeling some kind of way following Eminem,” Obama quipped. “I thought Eminem was going to be performing, I was ready to jump out. Love me some Eminem.”
Eminem’s support for Harris and the Democratic ticket isn’t new. He endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during the 2020 campaign, allowing his song “Lose Yourself” to be used in a campaign ad. He has also been an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. In a past interview, he accused Trump of “brainwashing” his supporters, suggesting they were led to believe “something great is going to happen. Nothing’s happening.” Eminem also made headlines in 2017 when he condemned Trump in a freestyle called “The Storm” at the BET Hip Hop Awards, labeling him a “racist” and saying “we f**king hate Trump.”
The rapper’s criticism of the GOP has extended beyond Trump. Last year, he sent a cease-and-desist letter to Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, asking him to stop using his songs after the politician performed “Lose Yourself” at the Iowa State Fair. Eminem’s history of politically charged lyrics goes back to 2004 when he criticized President George W. Bush in the track “Mosh,” condemning the Iraq War.
The announcement of Eminem’s appearance came alongside news that Bruce Springsteen will join Harris at rallies later this week in the key battleground states of Georgia and Pennsylvania. These events, set to take place in Atlanta and Philadelphia, will be part of a series of “When We Vote We Win” concerts in seven swing states during the campaign’s final stretch. Additional events are expected in Wisconsin, Arizona, North Carolina, and Nevada.
As the presidential race enters its final days, the competition between Harris and Trump remains extremely tight in several key states. According to the New York Times polling averages, the two candidates are neck and neck in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, with neither side having a clear lead.
Since releasing his album “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)” in July, Eminem has made occasional public appearances. Recently, he shared in the video for his song “Temporary” that he is going to become a grandfather, featuring a clip where his daughter Hailie Jade surprises him with the news.
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