Fact Check: Are Minneapolis Protesters Being Paid?

The Trump administration claims protesters are being compensated, but an investigation finds no evidence to support the allegation.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The monthslong Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked ongoing protests in Minneapolis, with some demonstrations drawing tens of thousands of participants. However, the Trump administration has claimed these protesters are being paid, alleging they are "insurrectionists and agitators" rather than grassroots activists. A fact-check investigation by CBS News and PolitiFact found no evidence to support the paid protester claim, with protesters interviewed denying they receive any compensation. The report also debunked online rumors and videos purporting to show paid protesters, determining they were either recycled from previous protests or AI-generated.

Why it matters

The accusation that protesters are being paid to demonstrate is a common tactic used to delegitimize social movements and civic engagement. By portraying protesters as mercenaries rather than concerned citizens, it allows those in power to dismiss the underlying issues driving the protests. This fact-check is important in countering such rhetoric and affirming the right of people to peacefully assemble and advocate for change.

The details

Protesters have been gathering regularly outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Building in Minneapolis, where ICE houses arrested immigrants and citizens. While the demonstrations have been consistent and passionate, some have accused the protesters of being compensated for their involvement. However, multiple protesters interviewed by CBS News denied receiving any payment, with one joking "I wish someone was paying me." Investigators also looked into online claims of paid protesters, finding them to be either recycled from previous protests or AI-generated hoaxes. The report concludes that there is no evidence of a "master leader" or organization orchestrating a paid protest movement in Minneapolis.

  • The monthslong Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked ongoing protests.
  • President Trump made the claim about paid protesters last month.

The players

Josiah Devine Johnson

A protester at the Bishop Henry Whipple Building in Minneapolis who denied being paid.

Pamela Scott

A protester at the Bishop Henry Whipple Building in Minneapolis who denied being paid.

Julian Latourelle

A protester at the Bishop Henry Whipple Building in Minneapolis who joked about wishing someone was paying him.

Julie Prokes

A volunteer who sets up a mutual aid station with food and supplies for protesters and others waiting outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Building.

Amy Sherman

A senior correspondent at PolitiFact who investigated the paid protester claim.

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What they’re saying

“No, we're not paid.”

— Josiah Devine Johnson, Protester (WCCO)

“I am not (paid).”

— Pamela Scott, Protester (WCCO)

“I wish someone was paying me. And if there is someone paying people, get in touch with me. I could use the money.”

— Julian Latourelle, Protester (WCCO)

“For protesters to be paid there would have to be some sort of master leader, or master organization, telling tens of thousands of people what to do and how to sign up and how to get paid. And we're not seeing that.”

— Amy Sherman, Senior Correspondent, PolitiFact (WCCO)

“What we found is when politicians are making these statements, they're not following it up with evidence. They're not saying who's paying them, what organization's paying them.”

— Amy Sherman, Senior Correspondent, PolitiFact (WCCO)

What’s next

The FBI has alleged that it has found "groups and individuals" funding the protests in Minnesota, but has not provided any public evidence to support this claim. Further investigation and transparency from law enforcement would be needed to verify these allegations.

The takeaway

This fact-check highlights the tendency of those in power to delegitimize grassroots protests by falsely claiming the protesters are being paid. The evidence shows the protesters in Minneapolis are driven by genuine concerns over issues like immigration enforcement, not financial compensation. Maintaining the right to peacefully assemble and advocate for change is crucial, even in the face of such dismissive rhetoric.