President Donald Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revived a familiar narrative on Wednesday, suggesting that demonstrators involved in the escalating protests in Los Angeles are “paid actors.” The claim, once relegated to the fringes of right-wing discourse, has again taken center stage as Republican leadership confronts nationwide scrutiny over federal immigration enforcement and its fallout.
Speaking on the red carpet outside a performance of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center, Trump offered his assessment of the Los Angeles protests:
‘The FBI is looking into who is funding these protesters’ — Tulsi Gabbard wants to know who is backing violent rioters pic.twitter.com/3mT8e7vfQz
— Catch Up (@CatchUpFeed) June 12, 2025
“These are radical left lunatics… They’re probably paid, many of them. As you know, they’re professionals.”
Gabbard, appearing on Fox News later that evening, echoed the president’s claim. She stated that the Department of Justice and FBI were “looking into” funding sources behind the protest movement:
“We’ve seen the ads put up on Craigslist offering people thousands of dollars a week to go out and conduct these violent and dangerous riots.”
As night falls on the LA riots, truckloads of ‘Bionic Face Shields’ are delivered to the “grassroots, organic” protest.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 10, 2025
The notion that left-wing protestors are paid operatives has persisted within conservative circles for years. Historically, it has centered around unsubstantiated accusations that billionaire donor George Soros orchestrates dissent through financial backing—an assertion critics have widely condemned as antisemitic.
Though lacking evidence, the theory remains popular among some Republicans as an explanation for widespread protest activity that challenges immigration enforcement, police conduct, or election results. In this latest iteration, Gabbard’s reference to a Craigslist ad was quickly debunked—the post in question originated from an internet prankster known as “Goofcon1,” not any legitimate organization.
TikToker alleges being offered $200 a day to join in protests against ICE and Trump’s deportation efforts pic.twitter.com/lii3gUIRlL
— Catch Up (@CatchUpFeed) June 12, 2025
The resurgence of the “paid protestor” narrative comes amid significant unrest in Los Angeles following a multi-agency ICE operation. With scenes of confrontation and protest dominating headlines, the administration has sought to reframe the public’s understanding of the demonstrators’ motivations.
REPORT: There appears to be a coordinated messaging campaign spreading throughout TikTok where large creators have released nearly identical statements on the ICE raids.
Many large creators are releasing extremely similar statements where they shame other creators for not… pic.twitter.com/eMN7KUm0Sb
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 12, 2025
Critics, however, point out a key irony: Republican operatives have themselves been found hiring actors to boost attendance at rallies or events, a fact that undermines the credibility of the claims now being promoted.
Moreover, the invocation of payment schemes as a root cause avoids engaging with the substantive issues behind the protests—namely, federal immigration policy and allegations of civil rights violations.
NEW: Woman says she accidentally bought an American flag shirt but is returning it now in solidarity with the illegal immigrants in Los Angeles.
Bold and brave.
“I accidentally bought an American flag shirt today, and I’m gonna go return it, because I wasn’t even thinking. I… pic.twitter.com/nbCFpwwzWU
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 11, 2025
