Rihanna Blames Voter Apathy for Trump’s Second-Term Victory

United States-based singer Rihanna has blamed voter apathy for Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, arguing that Americans who failed to vote also contributed to his return to the White House.

The singer made the comment while reacting to a viral Instagram clip from a discussion involving former MSNBC host Joy Reid and journalists Charles M. Blow and others, in which the political and financial controversies surrounding Trump’s administration were discussed.

During the conversation, Reid reportedly argued that Americans who voted Trump back into office should bear responsibility for the consequences of his administration, including its financial controversies.

Rihanna, however, shifted attention to eligible voters who stayed away from the polls, saying their decision not to participate in the election also played a role in Trump’s victory.

Reacting to the clip on Instagram, the singer wrote: “Believe it or not, those who didn’t vote at all, also did this!”

Trump defeated Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the November 2024 presidential election to secure a second term. He had previously lost his re-election bid in 2020 to Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Rihanna’s remarks have drawn attention to the role of voter participation in electoral outcomes and the debate over whether people who abstain from voting share responsibility for the policies and decisions of elected leaders.

Although Rihanna resides in the United States, she is not an American citizen and is therefore ineligible to vote in US presidential elections.