Washington DC [US]: US President Donald Trump has called for a formal investigation into alleged illegal campaign contributions during Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign, specifically targeting payments made to prominent celebrities who endorsed her candidacy.
In a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump alleged that entertainers including Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, and Bono were paid under the guise of performance fees, which he claims effectively amounted to unlawful endorsements.
“How much did Kamala Harris pay Bruce Springsteen for his poor performance during her campaign for president?” Trump wrote. “Isn’t that a major and illegal campaign contribution?”
He further stated,
“Candidates aren’t allowed to pay for endorsements, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment… This is an illegal election scam at the highest level.”
Trump cited unverified reports claiming that Beyonce was paid USD 11 million for a brief appearance without performing and accused the Harris campaign of artificially boosting event turnout through celebrity involvement.
During the 2024 campaign, Harris received vocal support from various high-profile entertainers. Beyonce, joined by Kelly Rowland, appeared at a campaign event in Houston, while Oprah Winfrey hosted a virtual town hall near Detroit. However, these appearances stirred controversy following rumors of multimillion-dollar payouts—claims that representatives of the celebrities have publicly denied.
Campaign finance records reportedly show that:
- Beyonce’s production company received USD 165,000
- Harpo Productions, Oprah Winfrey’s company, received USD 1 million
Winfrey later clarified on social media that she was not paid for her endorsement, and Beyonce’s mother called the rumors “false.” Despite her use of Beyonce’s song “Freedom” at rallies, no payments for performance were disclosed.
Bruce Springsteen, a long-time Democratic supporter, also endorsed Harris and criticized Trump at multiple events. Speaking during a Manchester concert on May 14, he described the Trump administration as “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.”
Springsteen previously said:
“I want a president who reveres the Constitution… and who wants to create a middle-class economy that will serve all our citizens.”
The Harris campaign reportedly raised over USD 1 billion, and the involvement of celebrities drew both enthusiasm and scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Trump himself has a long history of celebrity endorsements, having been backed in past campaigns by figures like Kanye West and Kid Rock, who performed at the Republican National Convention and Trump’s 2017 inauguration-eve rally.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) or the Harris campaign regarding Trump’s call for an investigation.