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U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday he would pursue a "major investigation" into alleged payments his election opponent Kamala Harris made to celebrities who endorsed her unsuccessful presidential campaign.
"Candidates aren't allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I am going to call for a major investigation into this matter."
The accusations focus on several high-profile celebrities who backed Harris during the 2024 election, including Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, and Bruce Springsteen.
Winfrey has defended a $1 million payment her production company received from the Harris campaign, stating it covered costs associated with hosting the former vice president. Meanwhile, Harris' team has denied rumors that the campaign paid pop star Beyoncé $10 million to appear at a rally.
According to financial reports filed by the Harris campaign, only one endorsement-related expenditure was listed: $75 to an environmental advocacy group.
The controversy highlights the stark contrast in celebrity support between the two candidates. While Harris leveraged star power from numerous entertainment industry figures, Trump, who won the election by a comfortable margin, received limited backing from mainstream celebrities but cultivated support from influential figures like podcast host Joe Rogan.
In his Monday posts, Trump specifically targeted Springsteen, questioning: "How much did Kamala Harris pay Bruce Springsteen for his poor performance during her campaign for president? Why did he accept that money if he is such a fan of hers?"
The comments follow an ongoing feud between Trump and the rock star after Springsteen reportedly told a British concert audience that America is now ruled by a "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration." Trump responded last week by calling the 74-year-old musician "Highly Overrated."
Springsteen, who has long been an outspoken liberal critic of Trump, supported Harris after she replaced Democratic President Joe Biden following his withdrawal from the reelection bid.
Neither the Harris campaign nor representatives for the celebrities mentioned have responded to requests for comment on Trump's latest allegations.
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