On July 27, 2025, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, alleging that Democrats illegally paid celebrities millions for endorsements during the 2024 presidential election. Trump claimed Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign funneled $11 million to Beyoncé, $3 million to Oprah Winfrey for “expenses,” and $600,000 to Rev. Al Sharpton, calling the payments “totally illegal.” He argued these fees, misreported in campaign records, violate federal election laws prohibiting paid endorsements, demanding prosecution for Harris and others involved.
Trump’s accusations center on Beyoncé’s appearance at a Houston rally, where he claims she “never sang” and faced boos, and Winfrey’s role in a Detroit event. Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show Harris’s campaign paid Beyoncé’s Parkwood Production Media LLC $165,000 for event production, not endorsements, and Winfrey’s Harpo Productions $1 million for a livestreamed rally. Winfrey denied receiving personal payments, stating funds covered production costs. Sharpton’s National Action Network received $500,000, but no evidence links it directly to an endorsement.
Campaign finance experts clarify that paying for endorsements is legal if disclosed properly, per FEC rules. FactCheck.org found no evidence supporting Trump’s $11 million claim for Beyoncé or others, noting Harris’s campaign reported no such payments. Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, and Cardi B also denied endorsement payments. Critics, including Democrats, call Trump’s allegations baseless, accusing him of deflecting from his administration’s controversies, like the Epstein files.
Trump’s call for a “major investigation” reflects his pattern of targeting political foes. While his base may rally behind the claims, legal experts doubt prosecution will follow due to lack of evidence. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions over campaign finance transparency and celebrity influence in politics.
