In a heated and unedited post on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump made a lot of incorrect allegations about prominent people like Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Reverend Al Sharpton. Trump also alleged that these well-known people were paid a lot of money—millions, in fact—to help Kamala Harris run for president in 2024. He argued that if these donations are legitimate, they are illegal endorsements and contravene the regulations concerning how campaigns can get money.
Trump also alleged that Beyoncé got an amazing $11 million to attend to a Harris campaign event for a short time, show her support, and then leave without singing a single song. Trump said, “She never sang a note and left the stage to a crowd that was angry and booing.” He also alleged that Oprah Winfrey made $3 million in the same way and that Reverend Al Sharpton, whom Trump termed a “very low-rated TV ‘anchor'” and a “complete lightweight,” made $600,000.
The magazine queried if these claimed transactions were legal and moral, and Trump replied, “The books and records have wrong information about these ridiculous expenses.” You can’t bribe someone to speak nice things about you. This kind of thing is against the law. He went on to say that things like these might have big effects, like widespread corruption and too much power in political campaigns. “What would happen if politicians paid people to vote for them?” He said, “Things would go wrong!” “Kamala and everyone else who took money to promote something broke the law.” Everyone should take them to court!
Trump made quite strong allegations, but he didn’t give any proof to back them up. There was no paperwork, contracts, or proof of financial records to support the assertions. So far, it doesn’t look like anyone has officially complained to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
The Harris team has denied making any illicit payments in response to rumors that have been going around online, some of which date back to October 2024, when Beyoncé was seen with Harris at a campaign event. Everyone knew that Beyoncé wasn’t there for politics or fame. She said, “I’m not famous.” “I’m not a politician.” I’m here as a mother because I care about the world that my kids and all of our kids live in. In our culture, we can govern our own bodies, and there is no divide. It was evident from what she said that she cared a lot about social and political issues, and not only because she worked for or was paid by the campaign.
There have been some strange transactions in the campaign’s financial records, but none of them match Trump’s numbers. According to official disclosures from the FEC, Beyoncé’s media company, Parkwood Entertainment, made $165,000. The business began in 2008. Still, there is no proof that this money was given to further a personal cause. The money might have gone toward things like setting up the event or getting the word out about it.
Deadline also said that Harpo Productions, Oprah Winfrey’s media company, only got $1 million instead of the $3 million that Trump said they would. Reverend Al Sharpton oversees the National Action Network, which made $500,000 instead of the $600,000 that Trump said it would. Both groups helped create a digital campaign event in Michigan where people could talk to voters, become involved in the community through programs, and talk about policy. There is no public evidence that the money was offered merely to secure endorsements.
Election law experts say that it’s okay to pay famous people to help with a campaign, such holding events, making ads, or persuading people to vote, as long as the payments are properly shown and recorded in the campaign’s financial records. It would be against the law to pay someone just to endorse you personally, without them doing any labor or services and without you telling them everything.
So yet, neither the Harris campaign nor the White House have officially responded to Trump’s claims. There is also no hint that an official inquiry has started. There has been a lot of debate on social and political media regarding the post, but fact-checkers have quickly proven that the main allegations are not backed up by any evidence.
Trump’s post is part of a bigger scheme to make people question the honesty of Democratic campaigns and endorsements from famous people. His statements are still just unsubstantiated claims on social media that could propagate incorrect information if people don’t pay close attention.
Right now, the Federal Election Commission’s records tell a different story: tiny, recorded payments for services provided during events, not multimillion-dollar payments for endorsements that weren’t made public. Being honest and open is still the most important thing right now, as is the role that famous people play in shaping political campaigns in a world that is quite divided.
