Former President Donald Trump made a series of late-night posts on social media accusing several famous entertainers, including Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Bruce Springsteen, of being paid to publicly support Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign. Trump did not provide any proof to support these serious allegations. These claims reflect long-held beliefs among some of his supporters.
In the early hours of Monday, Trump questioned if Bruce Springsteen had been paid to appear at a Harris event and asked if such payments would count as illegal campaign contributions. He also mentioned Oprah Winfrey and Bono as others who allegedly accepted money to endorse Harris.
Later Monday morning, Trump expanded his accusations. He claimed Beyoncé was paid $11 million simply to walk onstage and endorse Harris without performing. He described the situation as a scam and said entertainment payments were used to disguise illegal endorsements. Trump demanded a formal investigation into these payments but shared no documents to support his claims.
Campaign finance experts say it is legal for political campaigns to pay for event-related services like performances, production, and event management. The important factor is how these payments are reported to the Federal Election Commission. Endorsements are not illegal unless a campaign hides or fails to disclose payments properly.
Records show Oprah’s company, Harpo Productions, was paid $1 million to manage a town hall event for Harris, and Beyoncé’s company received $165,000 for production services. There is no evidence these payments were for personal endorsements. Both Oprah and Beyoncé’s representatives have denied being paid to support Harris and stated the money was used for production costs and event management.
Trump has recently criticized celebrities who oppose him. After Bruce Springsteen spoke against Trump’s leadership, Trump mocked him. He also criticized singer Taylor Swift, questioning her popularity and expressing dislike for her.
Legal experts have raised concerns about Trump using federal agencies to pursue personal conflicts. Some warn this could be an abuse of power, with Trump targeting critics while protecting his allies.
So far, there is no evidence that Kamala Harris’s campaign or the celebrities named broke any election laws. All parties have denied receiving payments for endorsements. This story is ongoing and may be updated as new information emerges.
