In early April, news of an “official” party celebrating President Donald Trump‘s first 100 days in office began circulating in some Republican circles.
It was marketed as the official party to celebrate the milestone, being held at the Kennedy Center, and made it seem as though Trump himself, along with administration officials and Republican members of Congress, could be in attendance. Tickets cost between $200-$1,000 for what was advertised as different levels of experience, including the Patriot and the Oath Keeper ticket packages.
The event’s website, which has since been taken down, mirrored that of the official White House website. The event said it was a “special celebration honoring President Trump’s first 100 days in office, recognizing his accomplishments and the tremendous support from his biggest supporters,” noting it would “feature an elegant happy hour followed by an exclusive, high-energy party.”
Attendees of the event and local Republican organizers have come out against the event, its hosts, and the entire premise. They called it a “scam” and a “grift.”
“Conservative Republicans, you know, we shouldn’t stand for this nonsense, this was a grift,” Shannon Getz, who paid hundreds of dollars for her ticket, told the Washington Examiner in an interview. “This is illegal and this is wrong.”
Getz has since filed a police report in Virginia, where the event was held. Virginia Code 18.2-216 prohibits “untrue, deceptive or misleading advertising, inducements, writings or documents.” The Virginia Consumer Protection Act also prohibits certain sales practices.
A White House spokesperson told the Washington Examiner that the Trump administration had no affiliation with the party.
Alysia McMillan, the main organizer of the event, said in an interview with the Washington Examiner that “if a color scheme and font leads somebody to believe, although there are words on the website that say exactly who the host is … that this must be the White House putting this on, I don’t know what to tell that person.”
Getz said her photo was advertised on the website as a “Self Driven Republican Woman” only to be taken down with no explanation provided to her. She did not end up attending the event after consulting with Patti Katter, an attendee, moments before the event began. Getz said that despite traveling to the event and dressing up for it, she had a gut feeling and did not enter the venue.
Katter, who paid just under $600 for the Patriot ticket, told the Washington Examiner she was scammed and misled.
“It’s not just a matter of moral integrity — misleading consumers with false advertising has legal implications,” Katter said. “Events that promise luxury and high-profile guests but fail to deliver are not only disappointing but also potentially unlawful. By speaking out, I’m advocating for transparency and accountability, ensuring that others aren’t misled in the future.”
“I thought it looked like a really great event,” Katter said in an interview. “They were promoting it as if they were almost sold out of tickets when I bought my ticket.”
The event was held at the Top of the Town in Arlington, Virginia, after McMillan said the Kennedy Center ended their contract. McMillan previously said the Kennedy Center did not provide a reason for ending their “events contract.”
The Washington Examiner could not confirm if the event was ever slated to be held at the Kennedy Center; the Kennedy Center did not respond to a request for comment.
Matthew Hurtt, the chairman of the Arlington GOP, grew concerned about the implications of being associated with the event after it was moved to his county. As members of his party began asking him for more information, Hurtt began warning attendees about the event.
“As Chairman of the Arlington GOP, it’s my responsibility to some extent to protect my members and Republicans across Arlington from unscrupulous political events organized by unserious people who misrepresent themselves and their events, claiming they’re aligned with the Republican Party or with figures in our Party,” Hurtt said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
“I have a record of calling out grifters, and this event hit close to home, since it was hosted in Arlington. Events like this damage our brand with Republicans, with prospective donors, and with businesses in our community, and I won’t stand for it,” his statement continued.
In addition to the website, all related social media accounts have been taken down. McMillan said she took down the website after the event in order to make updates, saying it was taken down before the Arlington GOP made its warnings. However, the Washington Examiner found that the website was taken down days after the Arlington GOP posted about the event on social media.
The day of the event, McMillan posted on her Facebook page, which has also since been deleted, that some people had asked her what “organization” she was with or what her job title was. She said, “Could have created a sham ‘organization’ and called it ‘Presidential Event Planning’ and named myself ‘chairwoman’ and those same people would have oohed and awed.”
Myles Morell, an event organizer the website labeled as a “Wannabe MAGA influencer” who works in news media, was in contact with a photographer for the event. The photographer and her husband, who wish to remain anonymous, were both slated to attend.
The photographer told Morell that her husband would be willing to help out with the party. Morell then reached out to the husband on Instagram, asking him to help with labor and whether he could bring alcohol. Per the event’s website, there was an open bar, but event organizers began asking other organizers to bring alcohol. Attendees confirmed there was still an open bar at the party.
In response, the husband said he and his wife, the photographer, would no longer be attending because when he “found out she wasn’t being compensated and she was listed as official photography.”
“You’re charging big money for this thing and people won’t be getting what they paid for. I would cancel your event before you end up with a Fyre Festival situation on your hands. Not worth all the legal trouble! Just some friendly advice, no bad feelings!” the husband of the photographer wrote to Morell.
In response, Morell sent a message to the photographer, saying, “Your man said you’re not getting ‘compensated’ and that this event is ‘illegal’ F*** you. Wh*re.”
In a statement since, Morell said, “I deeply regret the message to the photographer. It was completely inappropriate and I have apologized to her and her husband. My involvement in the event was in a volunteer capacity and I did not profit or make any money from it. My intention was to commemorate the first 100 days of the administration at a party with friends, and nothing more.”
Attendees of the event also contended that the hosts acted unprofessionally. An email obtained by the Washington Examiner from an attendee of the event stated that “both hosts were completely plastered.”
“There was no VIP, there was no red carpet, like they promised, like when I bought my ticket,” Katter said, noting the website of the event said attendees would be “‘in the company of high profile guests.’ I have no idea who those would have been because I didn’t see anybody high profile.”
When asked if she had a different explanation for the ticket packages not being what they were advertised as, McMillan said, “No.”
Katter noted that the event was advertised as “White Tie,” which, according to the event website, is “the most formal of dress codes.” She said she wore the attire, but most people, including the hosts, were underdressed.
Getz, ahead of the event, asked McMillan and Morell, “Who are the special guests who are going? The answer was, ‘You’re the special guest.’”
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Katter asked McMillan for a partial refund, noting that the event gave them less than what was promised.
In response to Katter’s request, McMillan said, “I stand with Republican values. I sold tickets in a free market in a capitalist society with no regulations,” adding, “I apologize if these values do not align with yours.”