Monday, May 19, 2025 - U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday, May 19, that he would initiate a "major investigation" into Vice President Kamala Harris over alleged payments made to celebrities who endorsed her 2024 presidential campaign. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, claiming that Harris violated campaign finance laws by paying for endorsements disguised as entertainment expenses.
"Candidates aren't allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS,
which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment,"
Trump wrote. "I am going to call for a major investigation into this
matter."
Harris, who launched a high-profile bid for the presidency
after replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, enlisted the support of
several prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including Beyoncé,
Oprah Winfrey, and Bruce Springsteen. Her campaign, which ultimately ended in
defeat, attempted to leverage this star power to galvanize support among
younger and more diverse voters.
Winfrey’s production company received a $1 million payment
from the Harris campaign, which her team said covered the costs associated with
the talk show legend’s hosting duties for a campaign event. Meanwhile, Harris’s
team denied reports that the campaign paid Beyoncé $10 million for an
appearance at a rally, labeling the claims as false.
Campaign finance reports from the Harris team listed just
one endorsement-related expenditure, a $75 payment to an environmental advocacy
group, raising questions about whether other transactions were properly reported.
Trump, who secured a clear victory in the election, received
minimal support from mainstream entertainers but was backed by a niche group of
conservative influencers, including podcast host Joe Rogan. On Monday, Trump
targeted several celebrities who supported Harris, questioning the financial
arrangements behind their appearances.
"How much did Kamala Harris pay Bruce Springsteen for
his poor performance during her campaign for president?" Trump posted.
"Why did he accept that money if he is such a fan of hers?"
The president’s remarks follow a week-long exchange with
Springsteen, who criticized the Trump administration during a concert in the
United Kingdom, calling it “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.” Trump
responded by calling the 74-year-old rock icon "Highly Overrated."
Springsteen, a longtime liberal and vocal critic of Trump, was among the entertainers who publicly supported Harris after she stepped in to lead the Democratic ticket in the final stages of the campaign.
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