Chilli Says She’s “Not MAGA” After Reports of Trump-Linked Donations

Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, a member of the R&B group TLC, is facing public scrutiny after federal records revealed a series of political donations she made in 2024.

According to filings from the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Thomas made 17 separate contributions between April and November 2024, totaling nearly $900. The donations were directed to several Republican-aligned organizations, including WinRed, the Trump National Committee Joint Fundraising Committee, Never Surrender Inc., the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Senator Ted Cruz’s campaign.

The records began circulating online in late March 2026, prompting criticism and debate among fans and commentators.

Thomas responded on March 28 and 29 through posts on Instagram. In her statement, she said she does not support Donald Trump or align with the MAGA movement. She described the donations as a mistake, attributing them to a misunderstanding of where the funds were going.

“I made a mistake too many make: I did not read the fine print,” she wrote. “I thought I was supporting causes against human trafficking and for veterans.”

She added that these issues are personally important to her, noting her father is a veteran and that she has long supported children’s advocacy efforts. A representative for Thomas later stated that many of the contributions were set up as recurring payments, which resulted in multiple transactions over time.

The controversy follows a separate social media incident involving Thomas. Shortly before the donation records surfaced, she had reposted a video that included a conspiracy theory about former First Lady Michelle Obama that critics described as transphobic. Thomas said the repost was accidental, explaining that she is not highly familiar with social media features and clicked the repost button unintentionally. She also expressed respect for Michelle Obama and said she would not knowingly share harmful content.

Public reaction has been mixed. Some critics have questioned her explanation, arguing that repeated donations to political committees suggest a level of awareness. Others have expressed support, accepting her statement that the contributions were made in error and emphasizing her stated intentions to support charitable causes.

The situation comes as TLC prepares for its upcoming “It’s Iconic” tour with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue, scheduled to begin in August 2026.