Al Sharpton has responded after President Donald Trump accused the civil rights grifter and several other celebrities of illegally taking large sums of cash in return for their endorsements of Kamala Harris’s failed 2024 presidential campaign.
It comes as Sharpton is once again at the center of controversy.
Trump is accusing Kamala Harris of paying Sharpton, along with celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé, for their endorsements in the 2024 election.
In a Monday appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Sharpton vehemently denied Trump’s claims that he received money for endorsing Harris.
Sharpton insists that the funds in question were given to his nonprofit, National Action Network (NAN).
He claims the money was for get-out-the-vote efforts, not for an endorsement.
“Absolutely not,” Sharpton said, addressing Trump’s accusation.
“As the FEC filings show, the campaign gave funds for get-out-the-vote campaigns for National Action Network, of which I’m a part of, and other civil rights groups.
“National Action Network, nor I, even endorsed her.”
Sharpton went on to suggest that Trump’s accusation was not just false but also defamatory.
He then attempted to hint that NAN’s lawyers were looking into suing Trump for defamation.
Yet, despite a defamation case being an easy win for Sharpton if Trump’s claims were, in fact, false, no lawsuits have yet been filed.
Sharpton continued by trying to suggest that Trump was attempting to deflect from his own issues.
In a low blow, Sharton sought to reignite racial tensions by accusing Trump of “race-baiting.”
“He’s trying to flood the zone,” Sharpton remarked.
According to Sharpton, the president is using “race baiting” to rally his base, a tactic he claims Trump has relied on for years.
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Trump’s accusation came in a Truth Social post over the weekend.
The president also slammed the financial arrangements with celebrities like Winfrey and Beyoncé, claiming that payments to them were likely illegal.
“I’m looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats,” Trump wrote before calling out the Democrat-linked celebrities for their involvement.
“YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT.
“IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO”
FEC filings revealed that the Harris campaign paid large sums to both Oprah Winfrey and Sharpton’s nonprofit.
Two $500,000 payments were made to Winfrey’s company, while Sharpton’s organization received two $250,000 donations.
However, these payments were not disclosed by Sharpton when he interviewed Harris during the election campaign.
The lack of transparency over the funds has already been raising questions about a potential conflict of interest.
Sharpton has long been a vocal supporter of the Democratic Party and has criticized Trump at every turn.
His interview with Harris in late October, coinciding with the vice president’s 60th birthday, was widely seen as an effort to elevate her candidacy ahead of the election.
While Sharpton has denied that his interview was an endorsement, critics argue that his failure to disclose the payments before and after the interview is a glaring ethical oversight.
The accusations against Sharpton are part of a broader pattern of the left’s hypocrisy regarding transparency in political endorsements and financial dealings.
Trump’s criticism of celebrities and their payments is reflective of a larger conservative concern over the increasing influence of elites in politics and media, and how financial interests often intertwine with political agendas.
While Sharpton continues to dismiss the accusations, Trump’s message resonates with many who are tired of the same old political games and are demanding accountability, particularly when it comes to the ways celebrities and elites use their influence to sway elections.
The call for transparency is louder than ever, as Americans continue to question the integrity of the system and the motivations behind the media’s treatment of political figures.
As Trump continues to wage his battle against the establishment and elites, it is clear that the issues surrounding money, influence, and political endorsements will not go away anytime soon.
Sharpton’s response only intensifies the conversation about ethics, transparency, and the unchecked power of liberal elites.
The American people deserve answers that could reshape how endorsements, campaign financing, and celebrity influence are handled in the future.
For now, the calls for greater accountability and transparency are growing louder.
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