President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday to question the legality of Democrats allegedly paying millions for celebrity endorsements during the recent campaign, sparking debate over campaign finance practices.
The president-elect has raised concerns over alleged financial practices within the Democratic Party, accusing them of paying exorbitant sums for celebrity endorsements during the recent election. Posting on Truth Social, Trump questioned the legality of these payments and highlighted high-profile figures like Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Reverend Al Sharpton.
"Are the Democrats allowed to pay $11,000,000, $2,000,000, and $500,000 to get the ENDORSEMENT of Beyoncé, Oprah, and Reverend Al? I don't think so! Beyoncé didn't sing, Oprah didn't do much of anything (she called it 'expenses'), and Al is just a third rate Con Man. So what is going on here??? Totally against the law, and I have heard there are many others!!!" Trump wrote.
Trump's claims follow a New York Times report illuminating the Harris campaign's financial practices. The report revealed significant spending on celebrity-filled events, including a $1 million payment to Oprah Winfrey's production company. Meanwhile, campaign staff in key cities like Philadelphia faced stark resource disparities.
The Times noted that while suburban offices were well-stocked, field offices in Philadelphia "were filthy and lacked basic supplies like tables, chairs, cleaning products, and printers," according to staff members. City organizers reportedly had to scavenge supplies from better-funded suburban offices or raise money independently to cover necessities.
The Harris campaign, which raised over $1 billion — a record for the most money collected in a single quarter — was criticized for its spending priorities. Despite the monumental fundraising effort, insiders reported that much of the money was mismanaged. "A lot of people appear to have lined their pockets, while Harris neglected to fund some of the core pieces of a solid organizing apparatus," an insider stated.
By Election Day, the Harris campaign had burned through nearly all its funds, leaving little to sustain field operations in critical battlegrounds. These revelations have intensified scrutiny of the campaign's financial decisions, mainly focusing on star-studded events rather than grassroots efforts.
While there is no immediate evidence of wrongdoing, the controversy has brought renewed attention to how political campaigns allocate resources and the legal implications of high-profile endorsements.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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