Kamala Harris Campaign Might Have Broken Federal Laws Paying Celebrities For Endorsements
On May 19, 2025, President Donald Trump unleashed a fiery tirade on social media, accusing several high-profile musical artists and celebrities, including Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Bono, of accepting illegal payments from Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign in exchange for endorsements. Trump claimed that Harris’ campaign, which raised over $1 billion in just a few months, violated federal campaign finance laws by allegedly compensating these stars to artificially boost her crowds and influence the election. In a series of all-caps posts on Truth Social, Trump demanded a “major investigation,” labeling the endorsements as “corrupt and unlawful” election interference and an “illegal campaign contribution,” specifically alleging that Beyoncé was paid $11 million to appear at a Houston rally without performing.
However, federal campaign finance records and statements from the artists contradict Trump’s claims. The Harris campaign paid $1 million to Oprah’s production company, Harpo, for a town hall event and $165,000 to Beyoncé’s production company for rally-related costs, as reported by outlets like USA Today. Both Oprah and Beyoncé’s teams denied receiving personal fees, with Oprah stating on Instagram that she “was not paid a dime” and Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, asserting that her daughter covered her own expenses for the Houston event. Adrienne Elrod, a senior Harris campaign adviser, told Deadline in 2024 that the campaign never paid artists directly for endorsements, though campaign finance laws required covering production costs like travel or set design. These payments appear to be standard for event logistics, not endorsements, undermining Trump’s accusations of illegality.
Trump’s focus on Harris’ celebrity endorsements seems to reflect his ongoing frustration with her campaign’s cultural influence, especially after artists like Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen publicly backed her, with Springsteen calling Trump “corrupt” and “treasonous” at a concert. Trump’s history of clashing with musicians—facing cease-and-desist orders from artists like Beyoncé and the Foo Fighters for using their music without permission—may also fuel his narrative. Critics on X have suggested Trump’s tirade distracts from other political moves, like House Republicans advancing a bill to cut Medicaid. While federal campaign finance laws prohibit direct payments for endorsements, the evidence suggests Harris’ campaign adhered to legal standards for event expenses, casting doubt on Trump’s claims of an “illegal election scam” and highlighting his tendency to amplify unverified allegations against political opponents.
