Donald Trump ‘hired actors’ to pretend to support him at Presidential announcement
Apprentice boss Donald Trump has been accused of paying actors $50 each to pretend to be his supporters at the launch of his Presidential campaign.
Mr Trump, a billionaire businessman who is known for appearing on the US version of reality show The Apprentice, became the latest Republican to announce a bid for a White House this week.
The TV star – who previously explained he opposes same-sex marriage because he “just don’t feel good about it” – revealed his long-rumoured campaign at Trump Tower in New York.
No expense was spared for the launch – and according to some reports, that also goes for the crowd who ‘cheered’ his announcement.
The Hollywood Reporter obtained a casting call from New York company Extra Mile Casting, looking for background actors to attend Trump’s event at $50 each.
It reads: “This is an event in support of Donald Trump and an upcoming exciting announcement he will be making at this event.
“We are looking to cast people for the event to wear t-shirts and carry signs and help cheer him in support of his announcement.
“We understand this is not a traditional ‘background job’, but we believe acting comes in all forms and this is inclusive of that school of thought.”
Mr Trump’s campaign denies hiring actors, telling the website: “Mr Trump draws record crowds at almost every venue at which he is a featured speaker.
“The crowds are large, often record-setting and enthusiastic, often with standing ovations. Mr Trump’s message is, ‘Make America great again’.”
However, political activists have already identified a number of actors who were in the crowd – with one blogger connecting the dots between faces in the crowd and a number of New York-based actors.
Despite Mr Trump’s public opposition to the rights of gay couples to marry, actor George Takei said previously that Trump privately admitted he has attended a same-sex wedding and that he’d found it ‘beautiful’.
