President Donald Trump is once again calling for criminal charges—this time against global music icon Beyoncé—over a claim that fact-checkers, campaign officials, and even Beyoncé’s family have repeatedly debunked.
In a social media post early Sunday morning while visiting Scotland, Trump alleged that Beyoncé was paid $11 million to endorse Kamala Harris during a campaign rally in Houston in October 2024. He claimed Democrats had “admitted” to the massive payment and insisted it was “probably illegal.”
But there’s no evidence to support Trump’s claim—nor is there any law prohibiting payments for political endorsements.
Federal campaign finance records show a $165,000 payment from the Harris campaign to Beyoncé’s production company. The expense was officially reported as a “campaign event production” cost—something campaigns are required to cover when staging large-scale events involving performers or celebrities. A Harris campaign spokesperson confirmed last year that no celebrity endorsers, including Beyoncé, were paid for their appearances.
Despite that, Trump doubled down, accusing Democrats of criminal behavior: “Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW. They should all be prosecuted!” he wrote.
This is not the first time Trump has floated the $11 million figure. Back in February, he cited no credible source, claiming only, “Somebody just showed me something.” The baseless allegation gained traction on social media last year, with claims of a $10 million payment spreading in pro-Trump circles. But nonpartisan fact-checking outlets like PolitiFact and FactCheck.org found no evidence to support the number.
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, also addressed the rumor last fall, calling it a “lie” and noting that Instagram removed one such post for spreading “false information.” A representative for Beyoncé later told PolitiFact the claim was “beyond ridiculous.”
Trump also criticized other campaign expenditures by Harris, claiming—without evidence—that payments to organizations linked to celebrity endorsers were improperly disclosed. He further insisted it is “TOTALLY ILLEGAL” to pay for endorsements, a statement contradicted by campaign law experts who note that no federal statute prohibits such transactions.
While Trump’s approval ratings have remained steady among his base, his repeated demands for prosecuting political opponents have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. This latest attack on Beyoncé adds to a growing list of celebrities and public figures Trump has publicly targeted during his second term.
