President Donald Trump has called for a “major investigation” into former Vice President Kamala Harris‘s 2024 presidential campaign, alleging that her team unlawfully paid celebrities for endorsements and performances under the guise of entertainment expenses.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump questioned the legality of payments made to high-profile figures such as Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey, and Bono. He claimed these payments were attempts to artificially boost Harris’s campaign events and influence voters, stating, “Candidates aren’t allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment.”
Reports indicate that the Harris campaign made substantial payments to production companies associated with these celebrities. For instance, Beyoncé’s production company reportedly received $165,000, while Oprah Winfrey’s company was paid $1 million for event-related services. However, campaign officials have maintained that these payments covered legitimate costs such as travel, staging, and production, and that no personal fees were paid to the celebrities themselves.
Federal Election Commission (FEC) guidelines require campaigns to pay fair market value for services rendered, including performances at campaign events. While there is no explicit prohibition against paying for endorsements, any payments must be properly disclosed and not exceed contribution limits.
The Harris campaign has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that all expenditures were in compliance with FEC regulations. Adrienne Elrod, a senior spokesperson for the campaign, stated, “We have never paid any artist and performer. We have never paid a fee to that person.”
Despite the controversy, the impact of celebrity endorsements on Harris’s campaign remains a topic of debate. While such endorsements can generate media attention and energize certain voter segments, their overall effectiveness in swaying election outcomes is uncertain.
