Is Donald Trump unable to let go of the election? On Saturday, he went on Truth Social to accuse Vice President Kamala Harris’ celebrity supporters of being paid millions for their endorsements. Trump called out Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, and Reverend Al Sharpton in a post full of accusations but no evidence.
He wrote,
“Are the Democrats allowed to pay $11,000,000, $2,000,000, and $500,000 to get the ENDORSEMENT of Beyoncé, Oprah, and Reverend Al? I don’t think so! Beyoncé didn’t sing, Oprah didn’t do much of anything (she called it ‘expenses’), and Al is just a third-rate Con Man. So what is going on here??? Totally against the law, and I have heard there are many others!!!”
Did Harris’ Campaign pay celebrities? Let’s look at what really happened.
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Oprah Winfrey
Trump said Oprah was paid $11 million. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, Harris’ campaign paid $1 million to Harpo Productions, Oprah’s company. This payment was for “ancillary costs” related to campaign events, not an endorsement. A spokesperson for the Harris campaign said, “We do not pay. We have never paid any artist and performer.” Oprah herself also denied being paid for supporting Harris. The payment covered event-related expenses, which is a common practice in political campaigns.
Beyoncé’s Role
Beyoncé performed at a Harris campaign event in Houston. Trump claimed she was paid $2 million, but there is no evidence to support this. Any payments would likely be for costs related to her performance, not for her endorsement. A spokesperson for Harris explained that payments cover “ancillary costs” tied to events. Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, addressed the rumors and said her daughter was not paid for the endorsement. Instead, Beyoncé personally covered many of the expenses for her team.
Reverend Al Sharpton
Trump also accused Reverend Al Sharpton of taking $500,000. The Harris campaign made two payments of $250,000 to Sharpton’s organization, National Action Network (NAN). These payments were part of a voter outreach program and not for a personal endorsement. Some critics questioned the timing of these payments, but they were officially for get-out-the-vote efforts. MSNBC, where Sharpton works, said they were “unaware” of the payments. These payments are legal and were properly recorded.
But why is Trump making these claims? Even after winning re-election, he seems focused on Harris and her supporters. This could be a way to distract from his own controversies. For example, Trump’s recent threats to invade Panama and his idea to buy Greenland have drawn criticism. Instead of addressing these issues, he turns attention to Harris.
False claims force others to spend time debunking them, which takes focus away from real problems. This is not new for Trump. He often uses these tactics to stay in the spotlight.
Trump’s post about Oprah, Beyoncé, and Sharpton is another example of his habit of creating drama. There is no evidence to support his claims. The people he targeted have denied the accusations, and the Harris campaign has followed the rules.
The question is, how much longer will Americans listen to him? How can Americans stop the spread of misinformation?
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
