Donald Trump’s latest diatribe purports to accuse two well-known celebrities of breaching the law.
Trump appears to be dissatisfied with neither Beyoncé nor Oprah Winfrey, oddly accusing the singer and TV host, as well as anchor Al Sharpton, of accepting money from Democrats.
Trump used his Truth Social platform to demand that the trio face punishment for their purported ‘endorsement’ of then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at events last year, including rallies in Texas and Pennsylvania.
He says the 43-year-old singer was paid $11 million for an ‘endorsement’ at the event, adding that she ‘never performed, not one note,’ while Winfrey allegedly earned $3 million for ‘expenses’ and Sharpton $600,000 for ‘doing absolutely nothing.’
“I’m looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats after the Presidential Election and the fact that they admit to paying, probably illegally, eleven million dollars to singer Beyoncé for an ENDORSEMENT (she never sang, not one note, and left the stage to a booing and frustrated audience!), three million dollars for ‘expenses,’ to Oprah, six hundred thousand dollars to very low-rated TV ‘anchor’ Al Sharpton (a total lightweight!), and others.
Trump went on: “These absurd fees were improperly recorded in the books and records. YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. It is completely illegal to do so.
“Imagine if politicians started paying individuals to promote them. All heck would break loose! Kamala and all those who accepted endorsement money broke the law. They should all be prosecuted. “I appreciate your attention to this matter,” he concluded.
However, according to a CNN fact check, there is simply no evidence’ for Trump’s allegation that Beyoncé got the Harris campaign funds, ‘much less for the endorsement in specific.’
According to the publication, federal campaign expenditure records show that the Harris campaign paid Beyonce’s production business $165,000 as a ‘campaign event production’ expense.
A spokeswoman also told Deadline last year that the Democrats did not pay for celebrity endorsements, but the law requires them to repay the expenditures associated with their appearances.
Trump’s remarks come after the president casually said last year that somebody’ showed him the musician was paid $11 million.
Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, also dismissed the accusation as ‘false news’ in an Instagram post in November.
She stated, “The myth is that Beyoncé was paid $10 million to appear at a rally in Houston for Vice President Kamala Harris. In fact, Beyoncé did not get any compensation for appearing at a rally for presidential contender Vice President Kamala Harris in Houston.
“In reality, she paid for her own aircraft for herself and her crew, which was very glamorous. They are not only lying and demeaning Beyonce’s name, but they are also attempting to undermine the authority of our vice president! Could we please address when the falsehoods and rumors might come to an end? Of course, you will not see this in the news!!!!”
Others investigated the claims, including Factcheck.org and PolitiFact, and apparently found no evidence for the allegations.