President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday to demand the prosecution of former Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside high-profile figures including Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Rev. Al Sharpton.
In a lengthy post, Trump accused Harris’ campaign of making illegal payments to the celebrities in exchange for their endorsements, claiming such transactions violated campaign finance laws, per USA Today.
“I’m looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats, after the Presidential Election,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “These ridiculous fees were incorrectly stated in the books and records. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO.”
He added: “Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them? All hell would break out.”
During the 2024 campaign cycle, Harris faced scrutiny over a $165,000 payment to Beyoncé’s company, Parkwood Entertainment, for her appearance at an October rally in Houston.
Additional records show $1 million was paid to Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions for organizing a livestreamed event in Michigan, and $500,000 went to Rev. Sharpton’s National Action Network, per Deadline.
Trump, however, cited higher figures in his social media post; numbers not confirmed by public records.
He alleged that Beyoncé received $11 million “for an endorsement,” while claiming Oprah was paid $3 million and Sharpton $600,000, branding him “a total lightweight,” according to CNN. Trump emphasized that Beyoncé “never sang, not one note,” and said she was booed off stage.
“They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump wrote.
The Harris campaign has previously denied that any of the celebrities were paid for endorsements. Beyoncé’s mother has also publicly dismissed reports that her daughter received $11 million, per The Independent, and Winfrey has stated she “was not paid a dime” to participate, asserting that only production expenses were covered.
Trump has raised similar accusations multiple times since late 2023, revisiting the topic again in May when he asked how much Harris’ team paid Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Winfrey, and Beyoncé.
Despite celebrity support, most artists who backed Harris opted not to perform at rallies, instead appearing via video or making public statements.
Harris’ campaign was well-funded; reportedly raising $1.15 billion directly and receiving $843 million in outside support, according to the New York Times. Trump’s campaign reportedly raised $464 million, with an additional $989 million in outside funding.
Trump’s latest comments come during his four-day visit to the United Kingdom.
Harris has not responded publicly to the renewed allegations.