U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will push for a “major investigation” into his 2024 election rival, Kamala Harris, over alleged improper payments to celebrities who supported her presidential campaign.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed Harris violated campaign finance rules by paying for endorsements under the pretense of 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.”
During her campaign, Harris attracted high-profile support from celebrities including Beyoncé and Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey defended a $1 million payment made by the Harris campaign to her production company, stating it was to cover the costs associated with hosting the presidential candidate.
Harris’s team denied speculation that $10 million was paid to Beyoncé to appear at a campaign rally. Campaign financial disclosures showed a single endorsement-related expenditure of just $75—directed to an environmental advocacy group.
Despite receiving limited backing from mainstream entertainment figures, Trump maintained support from a niche group of high-profile, conservative influencers, including popular podcast host Joe Rogan.
On Monday, Trump also accused Harris of paying rock legend Bruce Springsteen to perform at a campaign rally in Georgia, weeks before the election.
“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?”
This latest criticism comes after Trump and Springsteen clashed on social media. Last week, Springsteen condemned the current administration during a concert in the UK, calling it “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous”. In response, Trump labelled the 74-year-old musician “highly overrated”.
A vocal critic of Trump, Springsteen publicly supported Harris after she replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee following Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
