In a heated post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump accused pop icon Beyoncé and several other celebrities of unlawfully receiving millions to endorse Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. He asserted that Beyoncé was compensated with $11 million for a brief appearance at a rally, where she endorsed Harris and then left without performing, which led to boos from the audience.
Trump further claimed that Oprah Winfrey was paid $3 million and Rev. Al Sharpton $600,000 to publicly support Harris. “They were compensated to do absolutely nothing,” Trump stated. “YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL.”
The president did not provide any evidence to support his allegations, which Newsweek and other media outlets have reported as lacking substantiation. He mentioned that the payments were inaccurately reported in campaign filings and called for criminal prosecution.
Kamala Harris’ campaign has refuted these claims. A spokesperson rejected the assertion that Beyoncé received $10 million, a figure that circulated online following the artist’s appearance at an October 2024 rally. During that event, Beyoncé remarked: “I’m not here as a celebrity… I’m here as a mother who cares deeply about our future.”
Records from the Federal Election Commission do not indicate an $11 million payment to Beyoncé. However, a payment of $165,000 was made to her media company, Parkwood Entertainment. Additionally, Sharpton’s National Action Network reportedly received $500,000, and Oprah’s Harpo Productions $1 million—for organizing a livestreamed campaign event in Michigan.
To date, the White House has not announced any investigation or legal action regarding the allegations.
While Trump’s post has ignited political discourse, no official agency has verified any misconduct by Harris or the celebrities mentioned. Currently, the accusations remain unproven, and the campaign finance records contradict the president’s most sensational claims.
WASHINGTON D.C. – President Donald Trump has reignited his accusations that the Democratic Party, particularly during the 2024 presidential campaign, engaged in illegal financial transactions with high-profile celebrities like Beyoncé and Oprah Winfrey for political endorsements, a practice he claims violates campaign finance laws. The explosive allegations, primarily shared on his Truth Social platform, demand prosecution for those involved.
In a series of fiery posts this week, President Trump asserted that the Democrats funneled millions of dollars to these cultural icons under the guise of legitimate expenses. He specifically claimed that Beyoncé received over $11 million for an “endorsement” where she “never sang, not one note, and left the stage to a booing and angry audience!” He further alleged that Oprah Winfrey was paid $3 million for “expenses.” Civil rights activist Al Sharpton was also named, purportedly receiving $600,000 despite being, in Trump’s words, a “very low rated TV anchor.”
“These ridiculous fees were incorrectly stated in the books and records,” Trump wrote, adding a stark warning: “YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO.” The President concluded his posts by explicitly demanding legal action: “Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW. They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
These are not new accusations from President Trump, who has previously raised similar claims. However, his renewed and forceful push for prosecution underscores a continued focus on what he describes as illegal campaign finance practices.
The Harris campaign has consistently denied paying for endorsements. While Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show payments from the Harris campaign to Beyoncé’s production company, Parkwood Entertainment (reported as $165,000 for an October Houston rally), and Oprah’s production company, Harpo Productions (reported as $1 million for a town hall event), these payments have been categorized as covering production costs and related services, not direct endorsement fees.
Oprah Winfrey herself has previously addressed similar allegations, stating, “I was not paid a dime to appear. The people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story.” Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, has also publicly refuted claims that her daughter was paid millions for political appearances.
Campaign finance law generally permits campaigns to pay for event production costs, travel, and other legitimate expenses related to appearances, provided they are properly disclosed. However, direct payments solely for an endorsement, unrelated to services rendered, can be problematic.
Despite the denials and explanations from the campaigns and celebrities involved, President Trump’s insistence on these claims signals a potential for further scrutiny and investigation into the financial dealings of the 2024 Democratic campaign, with the President making clear his desire for criminal charges.
