Trump Calls for Prosecution of Harris and Celebrities Over Alleged Payments

Former President Donald Trump has called for the criminal prosecution of Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging that she paid millions of dollars to celebrities such as Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Al Sharpton during her 2024 campaign, claiming these payments were illegal endorsements.

He asserts that Harris’s campaign made questionable financial disclosures, stating, “You are not allowed to pay for an endorsement. It is totally illegal.” Trump also suggested that such payments are unprecedented and disruptive if conducted by politicians.

In the 2024 cycle, Harris’s campaign faced scrutiny over payments including $165,000 to Beyoncé’s production company for a rally, $1 million paid to Oprah Winfrey’s company for a livestream event, and $500,000 to Al Sharpton’s National Action Network. Trump estimated the total payments to these figures to be over $11 million, claiming Beyoncé did not perform at her rally and speaking at a podium instead.

Kamala Harris embracing Beyoncé at a campaign rally — Beyoncé spoke at a podium during the campaign; her mother denied reports of payment for endorsement.

Trump criticized the payments, stating, “They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

The Harris campaign has denied the accusations, asserting they did not pay for endorsements. Beyoncé’s mother publicly denied that her daughter was paid up to $11 million to speak at the rally, while Oprah Winfrey also claimed she was not paid but had her production costs covered by the campaign.

Harris’s campaign remains financially robust with over $1.15 billion in funds and significant outside support, contrasting with Trump’s campaign funds, which totaled around $464 million, according to campaign finance data.

Trump made these claims during his visit to the UK, continuing his allegations against celebrity endorsements within political campaigns.