Olivia Asher is a reporter at the New Herald Tribune covering breaking news for the Digital Trends Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Plain Dealer.
June 13 , 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As anticipation builds for the upcoming military parade on Constitution Avenue, the cost to fill seats at the high-profile Washington event has reached unprecedented levels, with some parade watchers now able to “name their own price.”
A viral Craigslist advertisement, posted ahead of President Donald Trump’s birthday parade commemorating the Army’s 250th anniversary, has drawn national attention for offering a staggering $1,000 in cryptocurrency to individuals willing to act as seat-fillers. The ad, which requested participants to dress in patriotic colors and promised a red hat and fast food lunch, was explicit about its intent: to maximize the appearance of a full and diverse crowd for cameras and VIPs.
The listing, attributed to “T-Mellon Events” and funded by “Fight Fight Fight LLC”—a company reportedly tied to a Trump-themed meme coin—openly encouraged people of color and ethnic groups to apply, stating these individuals would be placed prominently for “maximum perception control." This level of targeted recruitment and generous compensation has sparked both skepticism and debate about the authenticity and ethics of such offers.
“Extras and seat fillers will be paid a flat daily fee using Trump crypto coin and will be provided a lunch of fast food and soda. We encourage people of color and ethnic groups to sign up for maximum perception control and these individuals will be prominently displayed on the televised broadcast and local viewing screens to be seen by the VIP platform,” the ad read.
The offer has set a new benchmark for seat-filler compensation in the capital, with social media users noting that such high rates allow potential attendees to essentially “name their own price” for participation.
This phenomenon is not entirely new. Seat-fillers have long been used at televised events to maintain the illusion of packed venues. However, the scale, specificity, and pay associated with this parade have drawn scrutiny and raised questions about the optics of political events and the lengths organizers will go to ensure a particular public image.
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