There is a scandal in the United States over the organization of paid rallies against Trump. What you need to know

The Crowds on Demand company, which attracts extras to participate in political actions, spoke about an order to participate in a rally against US President Donald Trump. They allegedly intended to pay her $20 million to organize a protest. Supporters of the head of the White House are outraged by this phenomenon. How paid events are conducted in the USA is described in the Izvestia article.

How the scandal broke out

• The spring and summer of 2025 were marked in the United States by a wave of protests against Trump's policies. In April, the Hands Off campaign took place, which spread to 1,300 cities in all 50 states. On Trump's birthday on June 14, similar rallies called No Kings took place, which have already affected 2,100 cities. Earlier, mass riots took place in Los Angeles, where participants protested against the extradition of illegal migrants to the authorities.

• On July 17, another mass action was planned called Good Trouble Lives On ("Good Trouble continues"), dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the death of Democratic politician John Lewis. Its participants again intended to protest against Trump. The rallies took place shortly after Adam Swarth, the founder and CEO of Crowds on Demand, made a revealing statement about an alleged order to attract protesters for them.

• Swarth said in a TV interview that the organizers of Good Trouble Lives On asked him to provide extras, promising to pay $20 million. According to Swart, he declined the offer, citing the fact that he did not consider the protests themselves to be effective enough. Swarth added that participating in them would put his company in a bad light.

• Worth's admission caused a storm of indignation among Trump supporters in the Republican camp. On social media, they began discussing both the behavior of the organizers, who were trying to increase the number of protesters for money, and the very possibility of hiring extras to create the illusion of mass support for a particular position.

What does Crowds on Demand do?

• The Crowds on Demand company and its founder deserve special attention. It was established in 2012 as a company that provides extras for promotional events. Her clients can hire actors who will portray fans, security guards, paparazzi, imitating the "starry" lifestyle for aspiring artists or politicians.

• The company itself positions itself as a "home for effective propaganda campaigns, demonstrations, PR campaigns, and corporate events," with services available throughout the United States. The media reported that Crowds on Demand also provides crowds of people to participate in public hearings in support of an idea or to provide support at court sessions.

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What can the anti-Trump protests across the country lead to and by whom?

• In an interview about his company, Swarth noted that extras worth $10,000 could be a good investment when it comes to protecting projects worth millions of dollars. At the same time, he calls this method of creating the appearance of support cheaper than direct advertising in the press and on television. At the same time, Swarth acknowledges that there is an ethical problem in the practice of hiring protesters, which is why the company's priority is the anonymity of its clients.

How extras are used at rallies in the USA

The recent scandal has cast a shadow over the supporters of the US Democrats. Swarth's admission forces us to question the sincerity of the protesters against Trump's policies, even if the ratings really indicate a decline in his support in society. The president himself hinted that the Democrats were paying actors to create crowds — he made similar accusations against his rival in the last election, Kamala Harris.

• At the same time, Trump himself was suspected of buying protesters in the past. In 2015, the New York-based company Extra Mile Casting published an ad for $50 to hire actors who were supposed to be extras at Trump's event — he was fighting for the right to become the Republican candidate for the presidential election at the time. The politician's camp denied the use of such practices, assuring of the sincere support of his supporters.