Somewhat than give attention to governing, President Donald Trump is demanding a “major investigation” into … celeb endorsements.
In an all-caps meltdown on Reality Social early on Monday, Trump raged that former Vice President Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign will need to 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???”
It’s an unbelievable use of time for the sitting president, particularly one juggling varied lawsuits, fears over tariff-induced inflation, and a global mess of his personal making. However right here he’s, melting down a couple of girl who misplaced and the well-known individuals who favored her greater than him.
President Donald Trump
Trump’s tantrum appears to stem from precise funds Harris’ marketing campaign made to celebrity-owned manufacturing corporations throughout her temporary run final 12 months. Public filings present Beyoncé’s Parkwood Leisure obtained $165,000, whereas Oprah’s Harpo was paid $1 million to finance a rally.
Nevertheless, 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,” though Harris usually entered rallies to Beyoncé’s “Freedom.”
However Trump isn’t letting it go, presumably as a result of star-studded occasions helped Harris generate power 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 celeb 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 not too long ago declaring she’s “no longer HOT”—his manner of claiming he’s jealous she fills stadiums. (In fact, she’s nonetheless very, extremely popular.)
That Trump’s nonetheless throwing tantrums about celeb endorsements practically 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 way 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 pals 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 every thing else on his plate, from court docket instances to crises, it’s anybody’s guess why Trump retains selecting fights with celebrities as an alternative of specializing in, you understand, governing. However one factor’s clear: Nothing triggers Trump greater than being omitted by the cool youngsters.
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