Oprah Winfrey recently addressed rumors that she was paid $1 million to host a high-profile town hall event for Vice President Kamala Harris in September.

The media mogul shut down the reports during an impromptu chat with TMZ, firmly stating, “It’s not true. I was paid nothing. Ever.”

This comes after the Washington Examiner reported that Winfrey’s Harpo Productions allegedly received $1 million from Harris’s campaign on October 15, following the event.

The claim sparked widespread speculation, but Oprah was quick to clear the air.

The Big Spending of Harris’s Campaign

In a broader look at the finances surrounding the 2024 presidential race, it was revealed that Harris’s campaign poured an eye-popping $1.2 billion into the race.

By comparison, Donald Trump’s campaign spent $750 million, according to an analysis by the Financial Times.

There’s even speculation that Harris’s campaign spending may have exceeded the reported figures.

The funds were put to use in various ways, including a town hall appearance with Oprah that was notably absent of the show’s usual controversial content.

Instead, Harris focused on key political issues, such as abortion rights and student debt, in a seven-minute interview.

Behind the Scenes of the Town Hall Event

The Washington Examiner also revealed details about the event’s production, including the significant sums spent on creating a set that replicated the one used by Anderson Cooper in Los Angeles.

Harris’s campaign reportedly spent six figures to build this set for the brief podcast-style appearance, filmed in a hotel room in Washington, D.C.

Interestingly, the campaign’s expenses didn’t stop there.

Federal filings show that the Harris campaign spent over $15 million on event production, which included high-profile performances from celebrities like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry in the days leading up to the election.

Eye-Watering Campaign Costs and Spending Discrepancies

Despite the hefty expenditure, the Washington Examiner scrutinized how the Harris campaign’s spending stacks up against Trump’s.

From July to Election Day, Harris’s campaign and its PACs spent over $654 million—more than 70% higher than Trump’s $378 million.

In an effort to boost Harris’s online presence, the campaign paid Village Marketing Agency over $3.9 million to recruit social media influencers.

The campaign’s extravagant spending raised eyebrows, with critics questioning the effectiveness of such investments, especially considering the outcome of the election.

Post-Election Blame Game and Financial Troubles

As the dust settles from the election, tensions within the Democratic camp are high. Both Biden and Harris’s teams are blaming one another for poor spending decisions.

Staffers are reportedly engaged in a bitter blame game, accusing each other of mishandling campaign funds.

To make matters worse, Politico reports that the campaign is now facing a significant debt—around $20 million.

Former Biden staffers have expressed their frustration, with one ex-aide questioning, “How did you spend $1 billion and not win? What the f***?”

As the Democratic Party tries to regroup following the loss, the financial fallout from their campaign’s lavish spending continues to raise questions about how they mismanaged such large sums.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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