President-elect Donald Trump made waves this past Saturday with a post on Truth Social, accusing the Democrat Party of paying celebrities to publicly endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump specifically pointed to Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Reverend Al Sharpton, claiming that these high-profile figures were financially compensated for supporting Harris on the campaign trail.
Trump suggested that the figures associated with the Harris campaign had been paid millions of dollars, implying that such actions were unethical and possibly illegal. He criticized Beyoncé for not performing during her campaign appearances and dismissed Oprah’s involvement as minimal, even though Oprah had claimed she wasn’t paid for her participation but was reimbursed for campaign-related expenses. Trump also took aim at Sharpton, calling him a “third-rate con man.” Sharpton, a longtime civil rights leader and MSNBC host, was in the spotlight after it was revealed that his nonprofit organization, the National Action Network, received a $500,000 donation from the Harris campaign just weeks before Sharpton interviewed Harris on his show.
Following that interview, Sharpton hosted a “get out the vote” rally for Harris, which raised further questions about the potential conflict of interest and impartiality in the media. MSNBC, however, claimed that they were unaware of the donation to Sharpton’s organization, and refused to comment on whether any internal actions would be taken.
Trump used this situation to raise doubts about the legality of these financial transactions, suggesting that such payments could violate campaign finance laws. He questioned whether similar deals were happening elsewhere, implying that the Democratic Party was engaging in corrupt practices to secure celebrity endorsements and influence the election. Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump has remained vocal in his criticism of Harris’s media appearances, alleging that some networks were altering her responses to present her in a more favorable light.