Former President Donald Trump made unproven claims that several top celebrities were paid by Kamala Harris’s campaign to endorse her. He shared these accusations on his social media platform, Truth Social, late Sunday night and into Monday morning. However, he did not provide any evidence to support his statements.
Trump suggested that Bruce Springsteen had been paid to perform for Harris and questioned whether this could be considered an illegal campaign donation. He also included Oprah Winfrey and Bono in his accusations, implying they too were paid for their support.
Later on Monday morning, Trump escalated his claims by saying Beyoncé was paid $11 million just to appear at a rally and show support, without performing. He described the situation as corrupt and illegal and called for a federal investigation. Despite the strong language, he did not present any documentation or proof.
The Federal Election Commission clarified that candidates can pay for performances or production services as long as these expenses are properly reported. Endorsements themselves are legal unless payments are hidden or falsely reported.
Documents from the Harris campaign show Oprah’s company was paid $1 million to produce a town hall event, and Beyoncé’s team received $165,000 for production support. Both women have denied being paid to endorse Harris. Oprah explained that the payments covered event costs such as lighting and crews, while Beyoncé’s mother confirmed she was not paid to speak and covered her own travel and styling expenses.
Trump has recently targeted celebrities who support his political opponents. After Bruce Springsteen criticized his presidency, Trump mocked the musician’s age and relevance. He also questioned Taylor Swift’s fame after expressing his dislike of her publicly.
Legal analysts warn that Trump appears to be using the Justice Department to go after his opponents while protecting allies, which some describe as turning the agency into a personal tool.
Despite Trump’s repeated demands for investigations, there is no evidence that Kamala Harris’s campaign or the celebrities he named have violated election laws.