Former President Donald Trump recently claimed that the Democratic Party illegally [1] paid for high-profile celebrity endorsements, including those of Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Al Sharpton.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump raised questions about the legality of large payments made to secure the support of these prominent figures.
“Are the Democrats allowed to pay $11,000,000, $2,000,000, and $500,000 to get the ENDORSEMENT of Beyoncé, Oprah, and Reverend Al? I don’t think so! Beyoncé didn’t sing, Oprah didn’t do much of anything (she called it ‘expenses’), and Al is just a third-rate con man. So what is going on here??? Totally against the law, and I have heard there are many others!!!” Trump wrote.
Trump’s allegations center on the endorsement deals involving Beyoncé, Winfrey, and Sharpton.
In October, the Harris campaign announced that Beyoncé would perform at a rally in Houston, Texas, a claim that was later revealed to be untrue.
According to reports, the pop star did not perform, but instead, spoke briefly before leaving the event.
MSNBC treated it as breaking news when the Harris campaign announced that Beyoncé would appear AND PERFORM at a rally in Texas.
The pop star did appear but only spoke and did not sing.
THEY LIED TO BUILD A CROWD‼️ pic.twitter.com/yHer8COOB2 [2]
— Tim Murtaugh (@TimMurtaugh) October 26, 2024 [3]
“Beyoncé went up and spoke for a couple of minutes and then left, and the place went crazy,” Trump said during a rally in Michigan. “They booed the hell out of everybody. They thought she was going to perform… What happened was my opponent got up and started speaking, and they booed the hell out of her. It’s crazy. They have to use people to get people to come, and then they send buses. We don’t send buses. Everybody comes. We’re just going to make America great again. It’s very simple.”
Trump: Beyonce spoke for a couple minutes, left, and the place went crazy. They booed the hell out of Kamala… They thought she was going to perform… They have to use people to get crowds. They send buses. We don’t.🔥pic.twitter.com/LhKWCBCqcm [4]
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) October 26, 2024 [5]
The controversy surrounding the Harris campaign’s endorsement deals extends beyond Beyoncé.
According to a report from The Washington Examiner, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions received $1 million in October for campaign-related services.
In return, Winfrey hosted a star-studded town hall event and spoke at the final rally in Philadelphia before Election Day.
During her speech, Winfrey told the crowd, “We’re voting for values and integrity. We’re voting for healing over hate.”
It is so good to be with @Oprah [6] for a town hall to speak directly with Americans about the issues on their minds in this election.
Our campaign is about who we are as Americans—and making clear that we stand for freedom, independence, and dignity. pic.twitter.com/5k8h5Ra7Uk [7]
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 20, 2024 [8]
In addition to Beyoncé and Winfrey, Trump pointed to Al Sharpton’s involvement with the Harris campaign.
According to federal campaign finance records and a report from The Washington Free Beacon, Harris’s campaign funneled $500,000 to Sharpton’s nonprofit, the National Action Network (NAN), just weeks before a controversial interview with Sharpton on MSNBC.
NEW: Kamala Harris’ campaign dished out $500k to Al Sharpton’s nonprofit just weeks before her big interview with him.
So… was the Harris campaign just one big money laundering scheme?
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Harris campaign sent one $250k payment on… pic.twitter.com/L79LVVzmK1 [9]
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 12, 2024 [10]
The funds were part of a larger $5.4 million spending spree by the Harris campaign, aimed at boosting her support among Black and Latino voters. However, the strategy reportedly failed to gain traction.
The contributions to Sharpton’s nonprofit came in two payments of $250,000 each, made in early September and October.
Just days after the payments were made, Sharpton aired a video of Harris offering birthday greetings, where she praised Sharpton’s “extraordinary leadership” and role as a “voice of truth.”
Trump’s comments have sparked further scrutiny of the Harris campaign’s spending and its efforts to secure celebrity endorsements.
His allegations of illegal activity are likely to fuel ongoing discussions about campaign finance practices, especially in the context of high-profile figures influencing political campaigns.
As the investigation into these claims continues, it remains to be seen whether any formal action will be taken against the Democratic Party or the individuals involved in these endorsement deals.
FACT: EVERY CELEBRITY (Including Oprah) OR LEFT-WING PODCASTER Who Took Money From The @KamalaHarris [11] Campaign AND DID NOT DISCLOSE THEY WERE A PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT, BROKE FEDERAL LAW!
Get A Lawyer Now!
The Law Applies To Both Parties & A Trump DOJ MUST Investigate. pic.twitter.com/EWh5yUdcgu [12]— John Basham (@JohnBasham) November 10, 2024 [13]
However, Trump’s accusations are putting the spotlight on the increasingly blurred lines between celebrity influence and political campaigning.