Did Kamala Harris Pay Beyoncé $11 Million for an Endorsement as Trump Claimed?

On July 21, 2024, former U.S. President Joe Biden made a pivotal announcement, withdrawing from his bid for reelection.

The decision followed increased pressure within the Democratic Party, especially after his underwhelming performance during the first presidential debate hosted by CNN in June 2024. Many Democrats called for Biden to step aside, clearing the way for new leadership.

Shortly after Biden’s withdrawal, Vice President Kamala Harris gained momentum, securing enough delegates to become the Democratic nominee for president. Harris was officially confirmed as the party’s nominee soon thereafter.

Following Donald Trump’s reelection in November 2024, misinformation surrounding Kamala Harris’ campaign finances surged, particularly targeting the rapid pace of her fundraising and spending over a short period.

Harris Did Not Pay Beyoncé $11 Million for Endorsement

On May 19, 2025, President Donald Trump claimed that American singer Beyoncé was paid $11 million to briefly appear on stage, endorse Kamala Harris, and then leave amid “loud booing.” He accused “Democrats and Kamala” of illegally paying her millions “for doing nothing other than giving Kamala a full-throated endorsement.”

Misbar investigated the figure announced by Trump and found no evidence that Beyoncé received $11 million for endorsing Kamala Harris. Trump referenced vague “news reports” but did not provide any credible or verifiable sources.

According to official Federal Election Commission (FEC) data, the only recorded payment involving Beyoncé was a $165,000 transaction made on November 19, 2024, to her company, Parkwood Entertainment, labeled as "campaign event production." This occurred weeks after her appearance at a Harris rally on October 25, 2024, in Houston, Texas.

The FEC permits payments for celebrity endorsements as long as they are transparently reported. In a 2022 statement to Verify, the commission clarified that violations occur only when such payments are unreported or mislabeled—neither of which applies in this case.

Post-Biden Fundraising: How Much Did Harris and Trump Raise and Spend in the 2024 Election?

According to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan group tracking U.S. campaign finance, Kamala Harris’s campaign raised nearly $1.99 billion—the highest total in the 2024 cycle. Harris’s campaign spent approximately $1.99 billion, nearly exhausting its funds, with just under $17 million remaining as of the latest reports.

In comparison, Donald Trump’s combined campaign and outside spending totaled around $1.47 billion, with close to $70 million remaining—more than four times the cash balance of Harris’s campaign.

Beyoncé’s Houston Rally Appearance: No Booing, No Payment for Endorsement, Says Mother

On October 25, the Houston rally drew an estimated 30,000 attendees and took place in Texas, the state with the highest number of electoral votes (40). Houston, located in the Democratic-leaning Harris County, reflected a relative decline in support for Harris compared with previous Democratic candidates since 2016, as analyzed by Misbar using local media visuals and electoral data.

Contrary to Trump’s claims, Beyoncé was not “booed” at the event. Video footage from the rally confirms the crowd’s positive reception.

In response to the circulating rumors, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, publicly denied that Beyoncé received any payment for her endorsement. She clarified that Beyoncé personally covered her own travel, flights for her team, and all glam expenses for the Houston rally appearance.

Beyoncé’s support for Democratic candidates goes as far as 2008 when she and her husband Jay-Z campaigned for Barack Obama.

In 2024, following Biden’s withdrawal, Tina Knowles publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, and Beyoncé authorized the use of her 2016 song “Freedom” as Harris’s official campaign anthem.

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