In a recent turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has accused the Democrats of allegedly disbursing millions to celebrities for their endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris during her 2024 campaign.
He specifically mentioned Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, and Al Sharpton as examples of personalities who, according to him, received payment for their support of Harris's presidential bid.
As reported by The Post Millennial, Trump took to Truth Social to express his concerns, stating, "Are the Democrats allowed to pay $11,000,000, $2,000,000, and $500,000 to get the ENDORSEMENT of Beyonce, Oprah, and Reverend Al? I dont think so!" He further criticized the celebrities involved, stating, "Beyonc didnt sing, Oprah didnt 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!!!"
The controversy arose when Beyonce's production company received a payment of at least $165,000 for her appearance at a Texas rally for Harris, where she gave an endorsement and a brief stump speech. However, she did not perform at the event, to the disappointment of many fans who attended the rally in anticipation of a performance.
While it is legal to pay for endorsements, the fact-checking website Verify states that the candidate must disclose the actual purpose of the expense. In the case of paying a celebrity for an endorsement, "trying to hide that payment could get a candidate in trouble."
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that the Harris campaign paid $1 million to Oprah Winfreys Harpo Productions after she hosted a town hall with Harris. Additionally, Al Sharpton's nonprofit received $500,000 from the Harris campaign, as he was set to conduct a friendly interview with her.
Despite claims from a former advisor to Harris last month that Harris never paid the celebrities for their endorsements, skepticism remains about the purpose of the payments made to these three prominent figures and others. This situation underscores the need for transparency in political campaigns and raises questions about the ethical implications of paid endorsements.
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