Overview
- More than 600 conservatives filled Saint Yves in Dupont Circle on Nov. 1 for the Cruel Kids event hosted by influencer CJ Pearson.
- Attendees included White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf and Rep. William Timmons, alongside MAGA influencers, conservative journalists and federal agency employees.
- Ross’s performance drew attention because he has previously criticized President Trump in lyrics and interviews.
- Costumes leaned political, featuring ICE agents, tongue‑in‑cheek 'government shutdowns' and a Hakeem Jeffries impersonation that Pearson wore, with McDonald’s and red Cruel Kids hats styled like MAGA caps adding nostalgic branding.
- After the event, Pearson said he aims to make the GOP 'cool' and announced plans for a 'Party to the Polls' road effort to register college students in swing states, a plan reported from his own statements.