Paid protester requests from crowd company surge 400% following federal takeover of DC police

A prominent crowd rental company is reporting a dramatic spike in inquiries for protesters in Washington, DC, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will federalize the capital’s police force.

Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, told Fox News that requests for services in DC from May to July 2024 jumped roughly 400 percent compared to the same period last year. The company, which supplies participants for political rallies, protests, and advocacy events, says such surges typically occur during “high-stakes political moments.”

“A large share are focused on opposing Trump’s policies in Washington and raising alarms about government overreach,” Swart said. “While DC’s local government has failed in keeping citizens safe, there’s also a danger in putting too much power in federal hands. That balance of power matters.”

Swart added that the “vast majority” of people at political events in the nation’s capital are in some way compensated, whether directly paid or attending as part of their professional duties, including Capitol Hill staffers. “These crowds aren’t as ‘organic’ as they appear on TV,” he noted.

Trump’s federalization order comes after the attempted carjacking of former Department of Government Efficiency staffer Edward Coristine and his girlfriend on Aug. 3, which left Coristine injured. Citing the incident and broader violent crime trends, Trump announced the activation of DC National Guard troops and federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department.

In a Truth Social post days earlier, Trump warned criminals “are not afraid of the police because nothing ever happens to them” and vowed to act.

“Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago,” Trump wrote. “If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”