President Donald Trump has called for a “major investigation” into Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign, alleging without evidence that her team illegally paid celebrities like Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Bono for endorsements. In a series of Truth Social posts on May 19, 2025, Trump claimed Harris disguised these payments as entertainment fees to artificially boost her campaign’s appeal, labeling it a “corrupt and unlawful” act. He specifically questioned payments to Springsteen’s production company ($75,000 for travel and event production), Beyoncé’s Parkwood Production Media LLC ($165,000), and Winfrey’s Harpo Productions ($1 million), suggesting they were illegal campaign contributions. Trump also cited an unverified claim that Beyoncé was paid $11 million for a brief Houston rally appearance, which he called an “illegal election scam.”
Harris’ campaign and the named celebrities have firmly denied these allegations. Campaign finance records show the payments were for production costs, not personal endorsements. Winfrey clarified on social media that her company’s payment covered event staff, not her personally, stating, “End of story.” Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, called the payment claims a “lie,” noting Beyoncé covered her own travel expenses. Springsteen, who has not commented on the payment, has openly criticized Trump, prompting personal attacks from the president, who called him a “dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker.” Campaign adviser Adrienne Elrod told Deadline last year that no artists were paid for endorsements, only for event-related costs, in compliance with Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules.
Experts confirm the FEC has no regulations prohibiting campaigns from paying for endorsements, provided they are disclosed properly. The Federal Trade Commission oversees endorsement disclosure obligations, not the FEC. In contrast, Trump’s campaign has not reported payments to celebrities like Kid Rock or Lee Greenwood, who endorsed him without compensation, according to Greenwood’s social media statement. Trump’s call for an investigation, lacking concrete evidence, has been framed by some media as a distraction, while others highlight the absence of legal grounds for his claims. No formal investigation has been initiated, and the allegations remain speculative, rooted in campaign finance disclosures that align with standard event production practices.
