The Truth Behind the Viral Craigslist Ad Allegation Involving Kamala Harris

There has been a viral meme circulating online for years, falsely claiming that Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris hired actors to attend her rallies. Former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump even shared this misinformation on social media.

Several online posts have resurfaced sharing a screenshot of a Craigslist ad supposedly placed by Harris’ campaign, looking for paid actors to attend a rally in Phoenix. The ad requested participants to engage in protest activities and hold anti-Trump signs, offering $15 per hour for about 500 spots.

The Question: Did Kamala Harris’ campaign really place this ad?

The Answer:

No, the allegations about the Craigslist ad are false. The Kamala Harris campaign did not place such an ad for their Arizona event. The screenshot has been circulating with incorrect details and has also been wrongly associated with Trump campaign events.

What We Found:

On April 9, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz held a campaign event in Glendale, Arizona, but they did not advertise for paid actors on Craigslist. Similar versions of this meme have been shared online since at least 2019. A reverse image search revealed a similar meme with the same details but related to a pro-Trump event. This indicates that the meme has been manipulated and falsely attributed to Harris’ campaign.

The location mentioned in the ad does not match the actual venue of the Harris-Walz rally. Furthermore, a search for similar ads on Phoenix-area Craigslist did not yield any results. This false claim has been debunked by the Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson, who affirmed that they do not pay people to attend their rallies.

Similar allegations of hiring actors for political events have circulated in the past, such as a 2017 incident where an alleged Craigslist ad for actors at a Trump rally in Phoenix caused confusion.

It’s crucial to verify information before sharing it online to prevent the spread of misinformation. Rely on credible sources and fact-checking services to ensure the accuracy of the content you encounter.