Trump Says Democrats Admit Paying Beyoncé, Oprah, and Sharpton Illegally for Endorsements

Trump's Accusations Against Harris Campaign Spark Controversy

President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticisms of the Democratic Party and Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly on his platform Truth Social. In a recent post, he accused the Harris campaign of allegedly paying millions for endorsements from high-profile figures such as Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Al Sharpton. These claims have sparked significant debate and scrutiny.

Trump claimed that the Democrats were "looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats" following the 2024 presidential election. He specifically targeted Beyoncé, alleging she was paid $11 million for an endorsement, despite her not singing during the event and leaving the stage to a booing audience. However, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, denied these allegations in an Instagram post, stating that her daughter did not receive any payment for speaking at the Harris rally. In fact, Knowles emphasized that Beyoncé covered her own travel expenses.

Similarly, Trump claimed that Oprah Winfrey was paid $3 million for her endorsement. This accusation echoes previous claims he made in November, which Winfrey's production company, Harpo Productions, refuted. The company clarified that it received $1 million from the Harris campaign to cover production costs for a live-streamed event. They also stated that Winfrey was never personally paid for her involvement.

Al Sharpton, whom Trump referred to as a "very low rated TV 'anchor'" and "total lightweight," was also accused of receiving $600,000 from the Harris campaign. Trump argued that such payments are illegal, claiming, "YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO." He further suggested that if politicians started paying for endorsements, it would lead to chaos and that those involved should be prosecuted.

These accusations are not new for Trump. In May, he had previously accused Harris of conducting an "illegal election scam at the highest level" regarding her use of campaign funds. He announced plans for a "major investigation," suggesting that expenditures amounted to an "illegal campaign contribution." Trump also implied that other celebrities like Bruce Springsteen, Bono, and others might have a lot to explain.

Trump himself has faced similar legal challenges. To cover legal expenses estimated at over $100 million, he has relied heavily on his political action committees (PACs), which have shifted personal legal costs onto campaign donors. In one case, filed in May 2024, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics accused his campaign of attempting to conceal settlement payments by routing them through third parties. The complaint stemmed from a former staffer's claim that the Make America Great Again PAC offered to funnel a pregnancy discrimination settlement through outside entities to avoid federal disclosure rules.

The Federal Election Commission notably dropped its investigation into whether Trump violated election laws with a $130,000 payment made shortly before the 2016 election to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic film actress, facilitated by his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in May 2021. This decision has raised questions about the enforcement of campaign finance laws and the accountability of political figures.