Donald Trump accused of exploiting unpaid child labour in lawsuit from those terrifying Trump girls
Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has been accused of exploiting unpaid child workers – after failing to compensate the terrifying little girls who danced at his rally.
Since January, our nightmares have been haunted by the memories of the group known as ‘USA Freedom Kids’, who sung North Korean-style patriotic songs attacking “enemies of freedom” at a Trump rally in Pensacola, Florida.
The group was initially intended to be a recurring feature at Trump events, but a second performance was hastily dropped after a frosty reception to the gimmick, and the girls were never seen again.
But Jeff Popick, the father of one of the girls who wrote the song and managed the act, now plans to sue Trump for failing to pay the group.
Mr Popick says that despite a verbal agreement that they would be compensated and allowed to sell merchandise at the rally, organisers did not follow through – and the Freedom Kids have not received a single penny from the Trump campaign.
He told TIME he will pursue a legal claim against Trump, sayiing: “There is a legal issue here, but there also is a morality issue. It’s important that I, as a role model for the group, hold their feet to the fire.”
Mr Popick told the Washington Post of his legal claim: “This is not a billion-dollar lawsuit.
“I’m doing this because I think they have to do the right thing. And if this means having to go through the court system to enforce them doing the right thing, then that’s what I have to do.
“I’m not looking to do battle with the Trump campaign, but I have to show my girls that this is the right thing.”
As well as the failure to compensate the group for their first performance, Mr Popick says the girls were invited to perform a second time in Des Moines, Iowa. He spent hundreds of dollars to travel with the girls to the rally – only to be told they would not be allowed to perform.
Mr Popick says the Trump campaign has refused to compensate them for the cost.
He continued: “I’ve asked and asked them for many months to make it right, and they haven’t, and if that means going the legal route, then so be it.”
Mr Popick doesn’t know if he will still vote for Trump after the ordeal.
He said: “I’m very saddened by it. I’m not really sure what to think.
“The fact that what he’s done to my group, or lack thereof, doesn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t be the right guy for president. I don’t know. Maybe I’m not the right person to make political commentary.”
