Trump and Elon’s “Paid Protester” Attack Debunked

Their attacks on grassroots protesters are nothing more than deflection and projection

You know our movement is strong when the right resorts to a tired tactic: calling us “paid protesters.”

Unlike the Tea Party—a “movement” launched by a rant on CNBC from the bowels of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and astroturfed by the Koch brothers—Americans across the board oppose the Trump administration’s authoritarian overreach and drastic cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, and life-saving medical research.

Trump’s callous, cruel, and chaotic policies are catalyzing Americans everywhere to take action, not only to protect their lives and livelihoods but also guided by a concern for their friends and neighbors.

At its core, the insinuation that one must be paid to care about Social Security benefits or worker protections or strengthening our health care system reflects how narrow-minded the MAGA elite is. All they see are dollar signs. All engagement is transactional. To us, it’s a matter of ideals.

They call outraged Americans “paid protesters” because they want to discredit the grassroots and what folks stand for, whether that’s the Tesla protests or civically engaged constituents simply showing up to town halls. It’s no surprise they’re trying it yet again.

But here’s the truth: Their attacks on grassroots protesters are nothing more than deflection and projection. In reality, the corruption starts with Trump and Elon. Look no further than Musk’s $1 million “giveway” to potential Wisconsin voters in the run-up to the state Supreme Court election. How about Trump charging up to $5 million for meetings at Mar-a-Lago? It’s the pay-to-play administration.

Just look at Trump’s appointees. A Trump donor is tapped for Navy secretary despite having no military experience. Another Trump megadonor was appointed to head Social Security. And then, of course, one of Trump’s biggest donors—Elon Musk—was granted permission to hack and slash his way through the federal government—in an illegal power grab—through “DOGE.”

And these are just a couple of examples of the pervasive corruption flourishing in Trump’s White House. There are many others, all raising deep ethical and legal questions.

They’re not just upset with how we fight back but why we fight back. We don’t mobilize for money. We do so out of principle and to protect each other.

That’s why, on April 5, more than 340,000 people nationwide will stand together with one demand to Trump and Musk: Hands off!

We hope you’ll join us on April 5 by finding a protest near you.

- MoveOn