US President Donald Trump declared on Monday his intention to initiate a “major investigation” into Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign, focusing on allegations that she improperly paid celebrities for endorsements.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “Candidates aren’t allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment. I am going to call for a major investigation into this matter.”
Harris had sought to leverage the star power of high-profile figures such as Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey to boost her campaign. Oprah Winfrey defended a $1 million payment made by the Harris campaign to her production company, explaining it covered the costs related to her hosting duties for the candidate. Meanwhile, Harris’s team strongly denied rumors that the campaign paid Beyonce $10 million to appear at a rally.
Financial disclosures from Harris’s campaign reported only a single endorsement-related expense of $75 made to an environmental advocacy group. Trump, who comfortably won the election, received limited support from mainstream entertainment but aligned with a niche group of influential hypermasculine figures, including podcast host Joe Rogan.
On Monday, Trump also targeted Bruce Springsteen, accusing Harris of paying the rock legend to perform at a Georgia rally weeks before the election. “How much did Kamala Harris pay Bruce Springsteen for his poor performance during her campaign for president?” Trump questioned. “Why did he accept that money if he is such a fan of hers?”
The feud escalated after Springsteen criticized Trump’s administration as “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous” during a British concert, prompting Trump to label the musician “Highly Overrated.” Springsteen, an outspoken liberal, supported Harris after she replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate.
