Fairly than concentrate on governing, President Donald Trump is demanding a “major investigation” into … superstar endorsements.
In an all-caps meltdown on Reality Social early on Monday, Trump raged that former Vice President Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign should have illegally paid off stars like Beyoncé, Bono, Oprah, and Bruce Springsteen as a result of they supported her over him.
“HOW MUCH DID KAMALA HARRIS PAY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FOR HIS POOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT?” Trump wrote. “WHY DID HE ACCEPT THAT MONEY IF HE IS SUCH A FAN OF HERS? ISN’T THAT A MAJOR AND ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION? WHAT ABOUT BEYONCÉ? …AND HOW MUCH WENT TO OPRAH, AND BONO???”
He saved going in a second put up: “According to news reports, Beyoncé was paid $11,000,000 to walk onto a stage, quickly ENDORSE KAMALA, and walk off to loud booing for never having performed, NOT EVEN ONE SONG! … THIS IS AN ILLEGAL ELECTION SCAM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL!”
It’s an unimaginable use of time for the sitting president, particularly one juggling varied lawsuits, fears over tariff-induced inflation, and an worldwide mess of his personal making. However right here he’s, melting down a couple of lady who misplaced and the well-known individuals who favored her greater than him.
Trump’s tantrum appears to stem from precise funds Harris’ marketing campaign made to celebrity-owned manufacturing corporations throughout her temporary run final yr. Public filings present Beyoncé’s Parkwood Leisure obtained $165,000, whereas Oprah’s Harpo was paid $1 million to finance a rally.
Nonetheless, none of that’s shady. It’s simply the price of occasion manufacturing. Oprah’s and Beyoncé’s households have additionally denied being paid for endorsements.
“I was not paid a dime. My time and energy was my way of supporting the campaign,” Oprah wrote on Instagram final fall. Beyoncé’s mom echoed that, saying her daughter “did not receive a penny,” although Harris usually entered rallies to Beyoncé’s “Freedom.”
However Trump isn’t letting it go, probably as a result of star-studded occasions helped Harris generate vitality and a spotlight whereas his personal rallies leaned on Child Rock, who carried out on the Republican Nationwide Conference. Not fairly the identical cultural pull.
Trump’s superstar fixation isn’t new. He’s been going after Springsteen ever because the rock icon slammed his administration throughout an abroad live performance. And Trump has repeatedly taken swipes at pop star Taylor Swift, most just lately declaring she’s “no longer HOT”—his method of claiming he’s jealous she fills stadiums. (After all, she’s nonetheless very, extremely popular.)
That Trump’s nonetheless throwing tantrums about superstar endorsements almost six months after successful the election is absurd. Stars backed Harris as a result of they noticed what Trump was providing and wished no a part of it. His demand for a federal investigation right into a defeated opponent as a result of Beyoncé endorsed her is much from oversight—it’s full-blown grievance politics.
Trump likes to posture as an outsider who doesn’t want Hollywood. However he’s tried to woo well-known mates too. The issue is that Conor McGregor and Kanye West don’t drive headlines like Oprah and Beyoncé do. That’s not a conspiracy. That’s style.
And with all the pieces else on his plate, from court docket instances to crises, it’s anybody’s guess why Trump retains selecting fights with celebrities as a substitute of specializing in, you recognize, governing. However one factor’s clear: Nothing triggers Trump greater than being neglected by the cool youngsters.
