Newly announced Republican presidential candidate Donald "The Donald" Trump has been accused of paying actors $50 each to participate in his formal campaign launch in New York City on Tuesday.
The 2016 contender hired a casting company to recruit actors to attend the kickoff event held at Trump Towers, according to The Hollywood Reporter,
The media outlet said it obtained an email sent by New York-based Extra Mile Casting last Friday to its client list of background actors, soliciting them for three hours of work in exchange for $50 pay.
"We are looking to cast people for the event to wear t-shirts and carry signs and help cheer him in support of his announcement," the June 12 email reads. "We understand this is not a traditional 'background job,' but we believe acting comes in all forms and this is inclusive of that school of thought."
Extra Mile Casting was reportedly working in conjunction with Gotham Government Relations and Communications, a political consulting group in New York that had previously worked with Trump.
Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski denied hiring actors and said he has never heard of Extra Mile Casting.
"Mr. Trump draws record crowds at almost every venue at which he is a feature speaker," Lewandowski told The Hollywood Reporter. "The crowds are large, often record-setting and enthusiastic, often with standing ovations," he said, adding, "Mr. Trump's message is, 'make America great again.'"
Extra Mile Casting also denied any involvement with the campaign, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "We don't know anything about that," the agency said.
Trump launched his presidential bid on Tuesday, remarking that there were "thousands" at the event. However, Business Insider estimated a much smaller crowd.
The real estate mogul called for aggressive job creation, new infrastructure and a massive fence on the border with Mexico, also promising to "bring [the dead American dream] back bigger and better and stronger than ever before."
"I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created, I tell you that," he said, The Hill reported.
