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3mo ago

White House Denies Craigslist 'Seat Fillers' Listing as Trump's Military Parade Proceeds

White House officials labeled the listing fake news following discovery of a Russian parade photo in the ad

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Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper inspect the troops during a full honors welcome ceremony on the parade grounds at the Pentagon, on July 25, 2019 in Arlington, Virginia.
U.S. Army soldiers march in formation as they conduct drills ahead of tomorrow's 250th anniversary parade on June 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Overview

  • The ad posted June 10 on Craigslist sought “seat fillers” for the June 14 Constitution Avenue parade, offering $1,000 in cryptocurrency through purported organizers T-Mellon Events and FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT LLC.
  • Reverse image searches showed the ad’s photo came from a May 9 Russian military parade, and no records exist for T-Mellon Events as an events management company.
  • Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly dismissed the posting as “fake news,” and FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT LLC confirmed it had no connection to the listing.
  • The US Secret Service stated there would be no bleachers or seats along the parade route, undermining the ad’s premise for paid attendees.
  • President Trump’s 79th birthday Army Birthday Parade marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary went ahead as planned despite the controversy.