After the news of the conversation broke, Harper addressed the situation in a series of tweets on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Without naming Nelson, Harper confirmed the $20 million offer that he declined.

“I said no,” Harper tweeted, adding, “I won’t be bossed, bullied or bought.”

I didn’t intend for a private phone call to turn public. But now that it has, here’s the truth.

One of AIPAC’s biggest donors offered $20m if I dropped out of the U.S. Senate race to run against @RashidaTlaib.

I said no. I won’t be bossed, bullied, or bought. https://t.co/Ji76jwPE3X

— Hill Harper (@hillharper) November 22, 2023

In a follow-up tweet, the 57-year-old noted that “telling the truth here will put a target on my back.” Linking to a donation page for his campaign, he told his supporters that “if we ALL come together, we can win.”

Yes, telling the truth here will put a target on my back. But if we ALL come together, we can win. https://t.co/wCUlbSCpPz

— Hill Harper (@hillharper) November 22, 2023

In a third tweet, Harper said the issue was not “about one person or one phone call.” Instead, he criticized “a broken political and campaign finance system that’s tilted towards the wealthy and powerful.” Harper added a defense of Tlaib, saying, “I’m not going to run against the only Palestinian-American in Congress just because some special interests don’t like her.”

For me, this isn’t about one person or one phone call. It’s about a broken political and campaign finance system that’s tilted towards the wealthy and powerful.

I’m running for the U.S. Senate because I believe the wealthy and powerful have too much representation in…

— Hill Harper (@hillharper) November 22, 2023

Democratic party

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