
Rent-a-crowd CEO lifts lid on US protest industry's ‘dirty secrets'
Swart, who founded Crowds on Demand in 2012, revealed what was described as the 'dirty secrets' of his profession in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday. His company recruits and manages individuals who appear at rallies, protests, and public events on behalf of paying clients.
Swart argued that compensating activists is not unethical. He said the service allows people to engage in causes they support but might not otherwise be able to attend.
'All activism is what I call incentivized activism,' he said. 'We compensate people for having their views known, but most people who attend demonstrations have some reason for being there other than the so-called purity of their beliefs.'
Swart offered examples to bolster his claim, including the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
'How many real housewives went out to protest for [the Black Lives Matter campaign] in the summer of 2020?' he said. 'Do you think it's because they cared about institutional racism? Or do you think it's to flex on social media?'
He added that labor unions sometimes pressure members to attend demonstrations, with threats of less favorable work shifts, and political aides are often expected to take part in campaign events during their personal time.
Paid demonstrators typically earn several hundred dollars per day, according to Swart. Nationwide publicity campaigns, he said, can cost millions. He noted that he recently turned down a $20 million offer from political interests opposed to US President Donald Trump.
Swart emphasized that his rejection of the offer was not driven by ideology but by concerns that the campaign's likely failure would damage his firm's reputation.
'The problem is that these are the same consultant class who propped up [former US President Joe] Biden, who propped up [former Vice President] Kamala Harris, who fundamentally failed so miserably in the 2024 election, and who have failed every single day since then in reigning in Trump's agenda,' he said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
DOJ silent on high-profile Epstein links after Maxwell questioning
Jeffrey Epstein's convicted partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been questioned by the US Department of Justice regarding some 100 of the late sex trafficker's potential associates, ABC News has reported. The department has so far not released any new information on the case. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for trafficking children as part of Epstein's pedophile ring, and was granted limited immunity to answer roughly nine hours of questions from the DOJ this week, ABC wrote on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the proceedings. The immunity reportedly allowed her to respond to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's questions without fear that her answers could be used against her later. She was asked about 'maybe 100 different people,' Maxwell's attorney, David Markus told ABC on Friday. When asked whether Maxwell had provided information about other alleged perpetrators involved in Epstein's trafficking ring, he told the outlet: 'We haven't asked for anything. This is not a situation where we are asking for anything in return for testimony.' 'We don't want to get into the substance of the questions,' Markus added. Blanche said on X that the DOJ would share additional information about what was learned during the questioning 'at the appropriate time.' When asked by reporters on Friday whether he would consider a pardon for Maxwell, US President Donald Trump said it was not something he had contemplated. Earlier this month, the department released a memo stating that the notorious 'client list' for Epstein's pedophile island never existed, and denied the need for further investigation. In an effort to curb public backlash after the unpopular decision, Trump last week ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to the Epstein case. He also slammed the 'client list' as a 'scam' perpetuated by the Democrats. Multiple news outlets have since alleged that Trump's name appears in the Epstein files. The US president last Friday sued media mogul Rupert Murdoch over a Wall Street Journal article claiming Trump penned a lewd birthday card to Epstein for his 50th birthday.


Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Immigration is ‘killing' Europe
US President Donald Trump has ramped up his rhetoric on immigration, claiming it is 'killing' Europe and warning that European leaders must act immediately or risk losing control. The warning comes as the continent continues to grapple with a protracted migration crisis that has spanned more than a decade. Large numbers of migrants have been entering the EU since 2015, largely caused by upheavals in the Middle East and Africa, and later the Ukraine conflict. According to the EU Commission, there were 385,445 irregular border crossings in 2023, an 18% increase from 2022. 'You're allowing it to happen to your countries, and you've got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe,' Trump said during a five-day visit to Scotland focused on his business interests, including golf resorts. 'Immigration is killing Europe,' the president added, urging leaders to take immediate action. 'You better get your act together, or you're not going to have Europe anymore.' Trump also used the occasion to highlight his administration's hardline stance on immigration within the US, boasting about stepped-up enforcement along the southern border. 'As you know, last month we had nobody entering our country. We removed a lot of bad people who got in,' he said. Since returning to the Oval Office in January, Trump has reinstated strict immigration control, including mass deportations and expanded detention efforts. He has pledged to carry out the largest migrant removal operation in US history despite widespread criticism and protests across the country. The migration crisis in Europe has been met with varied responses across the continent. While some countries initially welcomed asylum seekers, many have since reintroduced border controls and tightened immigration laws amid concerns over security and rising crime. In April, US Vice President J.D. Vance echoed the president's concerns, describing its migration policy as one of the Europe's greatest threats. He warned that uncontrolled migration risks 'destroying the fundamental cultural bedrock of Europe.'


Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
US Democrats have worst poll numbers since Clinton era
Public approval of the US Democratic Party has fallen to its lowest level in more than three decades, according to a new Wall Street Journal poll, which also shows voters expressing greater confidence in Republicans on most major policy issues. The survey, conducted July 16-20 among 1,500 registered voters, found that 33% viewed the party favorably, while 63% expressed an unfavorable opinion. It marks the worst rating for Democrats in the Journal's polling since 1990. The Republican Party also received a net negative rating, with 43% viewing it favorably and 54% unfavorably, but the gap was narrower. Voters now say they trust Republicans more than Democrats in Congress on eight out of ten issues polled. The only exceptions are healthcare and vaccine policy. This trust gap has persisted despite broad dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of key issues. Most respondents disapprove of his management of inflation, the economy, tariffs and foreign policy. Still, Republicans have more support on each of those topics. For example, while Trump received a net disapproval of 11 points on inflation, the GOP was preferred over Democrats by 10 points on the issue. The survey results point to a major shift in political alignment. In 2017, more voters identified as Democrats than Republicans by six points. The latest poll shows Republicans leading by one point and holding a consistent advantage for more than a year. Following his 2024 election victory, Trump claimed that American voters had rejected the 'radical left.' He has also repeatedly accused former President Joe Biden and other Democrats of alienating voters by prioritizing 'open border policies,' transgender rights, and critical race theory over national security and economic stability. The new polling figures come as Republicans prepare for next year's midterm elections, where they face the challenge of defending a narrow 219–212 majority in the House of Representatives. Some within Trump's orbit have warned that internal divisions could erode the party's support. Steve Bannon, the president's former strategist, has said that backlash over Trump's handling of the Epstein case could fracture the MAGA base and cost the GOP up to 40 House seats in 2026.