Trump pushed false $11M claim against Beyoncé

Trump Says Beyoncé Was Paid $11M

Donald Trump claimed that Beyoncé was paid $11 million to endorse Kamala Harris during a 2024 rally in Houston. He posted that Democrats admitted to the payment and called it illegal. No actual records support the existence of this payment.

Trump repeated the claim on his social media while visiting Scotland. He demanded prosecution, saying the payment violated campaign laws. However, campaign records don’t list such a payment, and no legal authority has confirmed Trump’s accusations or supported the $11 million figure.

Federal Records Show $165K Payment Only

According to Federal Election Commission records, Beyoncé’s production company received $165,000 from the Harris campaign. The payment was marked for “campaign event production,” not endorsement. That amount is far less than the $11 million Trump claimed.

A Harris spokesperson explained that celebrities were not paid to support the campaign. Campaigns must legally pay for costs tied to appearances, like production or equipment. This payment was filed with federal authorities and doesn’t show anything close to the number Trump posted online.

Beyoncé’s Spokesperson Denies the Story

Beyoncé’s spokesperson told PolitiFact that the claim was “beyond ridiculous.” They said Beyoncé received no money for endorsing Harris and that her appearance was not paid for as a performance or personal appearance fee.

The only financial transaction was for event production through her company. No contracts, records, or receipts have ever been found showing a multimillion-dollar endorsement. Beyoncé’s team made it clear that the viral claim had no truth and was based entirely on false information.

Tina Knowles Slams the Claim Online

Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, posted on social media that the $10 million rumor was a “lie.” She stated clearly that Beyoncé did not receive a penny for her role in the Harris rally. She said the claim was false and misleading.

Instagram labeled the post spreading the rumor as “False Information” and took it down. Knowles pointed out that people were using the lie to push political attacks. Her post confirmed the family’s position that Beyoncé supported Harris without receiving any payment.

Democrats Used Celebrity Strategy in 2024

The Harris-Walz campaign leaned heavily on celebrity appearances in 2024. Stars like Beyoncé, Cardi B, Lady Gaga, and Eminem showed up at events. The strategy was to draw large crowds and raise excitement through entertainment instead of detailed policy.

After the election, critics admitted the plan didn’t succeed. Tim Walz said his son thought young men supported Trump more for entertainment than politics. The campaign’s focus on celebrity events may have backfired with some voters, especially in swing states and among younger audiences.

Trump Attacks Multiple Celebrities

Trump’s post didn’t stop at Beyoncé. He also accused Oprah Winfrey, Bono, and Bruce Springsteen of being secretly paid to endorse Harris. He said the payments were part of a massive illegal election scam by Democrats.

He gave no numbers or proof for any of these claims. He said these celebrities “have a lot of explaining to do” and accused Harris of hiding the payments. The accusations spread online quickly, even though no campaign records support these claims.

Oprah’s Company Was Paid for Production

The Harris campaign paid Oprah’s company, Harpo Productions, $1 million for a televised town hall. The event featured other celebrities including Chris Rock, Meryl Streep, and Ben Stiller.

The payment was reported legally as a production expense.It was not labeled as an endorsement fee, and there’s no proof Oprah was paid to support Harris. The town hall was part of campaign outreach, and all expenses were listed in filings. No election rule was broken based on public financial reports.

Trump Calls It a National Scam

In his post, Trump wrote that this was “an illegal election scam at the highest level.” He insisted these payments were illegal and said it was a major case of election interference. He said Harris and others “broke the law.”

Legal experts and the Federal Election Commission say no law was broken. It’s legal to pay companies for event production, even if celebrities appear. What matters is whether the payments are reported properly, not whether the people involved are famous.

No Law Bans Celebrity Payments

There is no federal law that says paying a celebrity for a campaign event is illegal. The FEC allows payments for services if they are clearly reported. The problem comes only if the payments are hidden or misused.

A spokesperson for Harris’s campaign said they followed all rules. They paid production costs as required, but not for celebrity support. Nothing in the records shows personal payments to stars for endorsements. Trump’s post did not mention this legal distinction.

CNN Gets No Answer from White House

After Trump posted his accusation, CNN asked the White House for proof. They received no response. No one from Trump’s team provided evidence of an $11 million payment to Beyoncé or any other celebrity linked to Harris.

Trump previously said “someone showed me something” as his reason for believing the number. He didn’t explain what was shown or who shared it. The lack of records, sources, or official reports leaves the claim with no factual backing whatsoever.

Fact-Checkers Debunked Rumors in 2024

The $10 million version of the rumor began circulating in 2024 on social media. Trump supporters repeated it often, and it quickly became a talking point online. FactCheck.org and PolitiFact both investigated the claim during the election.

They reviewed campaign finance reports and talked to Harris campaign officials. They found no payment to Beyoncé beyond the $165,000 event production expense. Their verdict was that the multimillion-dollar endorsement rumor was false and had no supporting evidence at all.

Colbert Satirizes Trump’s Accusation

Stephen Colbert mocked Trump’s claim during his late-night show. He performed a fake Beyoncé song targeting Trump’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein. The lyrics joked about distraction tactics and questioned Trump’s motives.

Colbert also joked about his own cancellation and criticized the FCC’s role under Trump. He highlighted how Trump threatened broadcast licenses and linked that to his feud with the entertainment world. The comedy bit showed how widely the $11 million rumor was being questioned.

Trump Ties Rumor to Epstein Scandal

In Colbert’s parody, the fake Beyoncé lyrics accused Trump of deflecting attention from Epstein-related scandals. The segment linked Trump’s accusations to growing interest in his past associations. It suggested Trump was using celebrity drama to avoid scrutiny.

No evidence exists that Trump visited Epstein’s island. Trump denied ever going and said he rejected invitations. Still, the Colbert segment used satire to connect public interest in those accusations with Trump’s sudden attacks on celebrities like Beyoncé.

Beyoncé Sends Political Message in Concert

On July 4, 2025, Beyoncé performed in Maryland near the White House after Trump signed a bill cutting taxes. She opened her show with “American Requiem,” a song about Black American identity, then paused before finishing the national anthem.

Critics called her anthem performance “intentional halfwayness.” She let the final lines hang in silence, symbolizing how the American promise hasn’t been fulfilled for everyone. The show was seen as a moment that turned celebration into protest.

Fans React to Her Independence Day Show

Reactions to Beyoncé’s concert were emotional and political. Many praised the performance for turning the Fourth of July into a space for reflection. One fan called the moment “ICONIC” and said it honored Black history and resilience.

Billboard and USA Today praised her decision to perform with meaning rather than just celebration. They said the show offered a way for people to feel emotions about the country.

Shannon Sharpe reportedly reached a confidential settlement this July in a $50 million rape and sexual assault lawsuit. Read more in Shannon Sharpe and accuser reach settlement in $50 million rape and sexual assault lawsuit.

Trump’s Claim Remains Unsupported

No part of Trump’s $11 million claim has been proven true. Campaign records show Beyoncé’s company was paid $165,000 for production work. The Harris campaign, Beyoncé’s spokesperson, and Tina Knowles all deny she was paid to endorse.

The Federal Election Commission hasn’t found any wrongdoing. Fact-checkers, reporters, and even social platforms labeled the rumor false. Despite Trump’s repeated accusations, no documents or sources have confirmed the payment. The $11 million endorsement story remains completely unproven and false.

These legendary stars were praised for decades but never received an Academy Award. See the full list of acclaimed stars who never won an Oscar.

What do you think — political spin or pure fiction? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.