Scorn in the Spotlight: Trump Targets Celebrities, Faces Backlash Over Qatar Jet Gift
U.S. President Donald Trump is back on the offensive—but this time, his fury is directed not at political opponents, but at some of the world’s most recognizable celebrities.
In a chaotic string of social media posts and campaign rally tirades over the weekend, Trump accused music icons Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, and U2 frontman Bono of participating in what he called a "coordinated and possibly illegal" celebrity endorsement scheme during the 2024 presidential race. The target of his anger: President Kamala Harris and her star-studded campaign support.
"Candidates aren’t allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment," Trump wrote in an all-caps-laced post Monday morning. "IT’S NOT LEGAL!"
Bruce Springsteen
Trump claimed the Harris campaign funneled payments to artists and production companies in exchange for their public support, a claim the campaign has denied. Financial disclosures confirm that Beyoncé’s production company received $165,000, and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions was paid $1 million for organizing and producing campaign events. Representatives for both women stressed they received no personal compensation.
"The people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story," Winfrey posted.
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, also chimed in, calling Trump's claims "laughable" and "pure fiction."
Despite the backlash, Trump doubled down at a rally in Tampa:
"They don’t even like Kamala—they just like the checks!"
A Diversion From Bigger Problems?
Critics suggest Trump’s celebrity feud may be a smokescreen. The former president is facing a bipartisan backlash after accepting what many are calling a "corruption-classic" gift: a $400 million luxury Boeing jet from Qatar.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called it "the definition of corruption," while Republican Senator Rand Paul said the gift "gives the appearance of a conflict of interest." Trump insisted the jet was "for the United States, not for me personally."
But ethics experts and lawmakers aren’t buying it. The backlash has sparked renewed scrutiny of Trump’s foreign relationships and revived concerns over his self-enrichment during office.
Trump's gift plane from Qatar
Legal Counteroffensives
In a new twist, Trump is now also waging war on the legal community. Multiple law firms have confirmed they are launching independent coalitions to fight what they call an unconstitutional crackdown on civil servants and judicial independence.
More than 200 lawsuits have already been filed against Trump administration policies, with over 70 federal court rulings blocking enforcement of key initiatives. Now, lawyers are forming their own firms specifically to challenge what they describe as Trump’s attempt to turn the Justice Department into a "political weapon."
A Shifting Celebrity Landscape
Back on the cultural front, Trump’s attacks on Springsteen have raised eyebrows—particularly in light of the artist’s long-standing critiques of authoritarianism. Springsteen recently performed in Stockholm, where he described the Trump era as "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous."
While Springsteen brushed off the insults, Trump’s scornful reference to the musician as "not talented" and "a total fraud" further fueled the spectacle. Political observers say Trump may be trying to reignite the culture wars that helped rally his base in past campaigns.
Yet, there may be less traction this time around.
"People are tired," said one senior campaign strategist familiar with both parties. "This feels like 2016 cosplay."
As the 2028 election season begins to heat up, Trump’s strategy appears to be less about expanding his base and more about re-energizing the culture clash that got him elected the first time. Whether it works remains to be seen.
In the meantime, celebrity backers of Harris appear unfazed. One insider from the Harris camp offered a simple response to Trump’s allegations:
"We’ll take Beyoncé over Kid Rock any day."
