Ashley St. Clair exposes right-wing internet's mercenary culture
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 7
Ashley St. Clair exposes right-wing internet's mercenary culture
5 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 7
The 27-year-old former MAGA influencer, with more than one million X followers, says in TikTok videos from New York that influencers followed coordinated talking points and paid promotional deals.
She shared screenshots of group chats, campaign messages and compensation offers, alleging some conservative personalities amplified administration and Republican messaging for money or reach without political-ad disclosure requirements.
Her break with MAGA follows remorse over anti-trans rhetoric and a public custody dispute with Elon Musk, adding to wider conservative disillusionment over Trump-era politics and online influence operations.
When political opinions are for sale, how can we distinguish authentic belief from a paid performance online?
As AI-powered influence campaigns grow, what new rules are needed to safeguard democratic discourse?
Inside the $400 Million MAGA Influencer Pay-to-Play Scheme Exposed by Ashley St. Clair
Overview
Following the April 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting, MAGA influencers and Trump campaign officials quickly coordinated a unified online campaign promoting Trump's $400 million ballroom project as a security solution. This coordination was enabled by a broader pay-to-play system involving recruitment by conservative groups, payments managed through consulting firms, and funding obscured by dark money and weak FEC enforcement. Insider Ashley St. Clair exposed this orchestration, revealing how scripted messages were paid for and disseminated via private chats. Her revelations sparked a credibility crisis within MAGA circles and fueled calls for reform, including the 2026 DISCLOSE Act proposal aimed at increasing transparency and curbing hidden political spending.