• Trump demands a "major investigation" into Kamala Harris' celebrity endorsements.
• He alleges illegal payments were made to stars like Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen.
• Harris' team denies any wrongdoing, asserting payments were for production, not endorsements.

US President Donald Trump has called for a "major investigation" into the celebrity endorsements received by Kamala Harris during her campaign for the 2024 presidential elections. Trump alleges that prominent figures such as Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen were paid substantial sums to endorse Harris, without providing evidence for his claims. His social media posts suggest that these payments could constitute illegal campaign contributions, stating that "candidates aren't allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment," according to SCMP and ABC News.

In his claims, Trump specifically alleged that Beyoncé was paid $11 million for her appearance at a Harris rally, which has been categorically denied by Harris' campaign. The campaign clarified that payments made to celebrities like Beyoncé were for production services and not for endorsements, as confirmed by statements from Winfrey and Beyoncé's mother, Tina Knowles. Winfrey stated, "I did not take any personal fee... the people who worked on that production needed to be paid and were. End of story," according to Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.

Trump's claims continue as he questions the legitimacy of endorsements, asking, "How much did Kamala Harris pay Bruce Springsteen for his poor performance during her campaign for president?" This statement is part of an ongoing feud with Springsteen, who has been critical of Trump and publicly supported Harris. Such criticisms and endorsements are positioned against the backdrop of Trump's campaign strategies, which tend to favor hypermasculine influencers, as noted by multiple reports, including SCMP and ABC News.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has no regulations barring campaign payments for endorsements, provided such payments are disclosed. Experts have suggested that Trump's phonetic allegations lack legal standing, reinforcing that the Harris campaign has complied with all necessary regulations. Trump's allegations are viewed as a continuation of his regular public discourse, aimed at delegitimizing political opponents, said analysts and campaigns, according to Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.