Veteran campaigner Alexander McCoy is calling on everyone to demand change from Sean Spicer on Venmo

‘Donald Trump’s White House is not listening to the American people’

Columbia junior Alex McCoy is trying to spur a viral campaign to protest White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer – by targeting his Venmo.

Spicer has a publicly-available Venmo handle, and people have been requesting joke amounts from him since it was discovered last night.

Now Alex, a veteran who spent the election protesting against Trump, has decided to use Spicer’s Venmo to bring his attention to real issues.

We caught up with him to find out why.

What are you asking people to do?

I want people to message Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary, on his publicly-available Venmo handle to make clear we’re demanding that Donald Trump and his White House represent us: We the people.

Tell me about your idea and where it came from.

It’s very clear that Donald Trump’s White House is not listening to the American people. You’ve seen millions of people protesting around the country. You’ve seen everyone from women to veterans speaking out to say what he’s doing is unacceptable. If we need to get the attention of Trump and his White House, there’s something a little perfect about the fact that the best way to do that seems to be through an app designed for transferring cash.

Are there any particular messages you want people to send?

I want everyone to speak out on what is important to them. But some of the things that are very important for me are ending this discriminatory and un-American Muslim ban.

And what do you think of Sean Spicer?

He’s a reflection of his boss. Donald Trump is surrounding himself with people who have no respect for the rights that we have in the constitution. Sean Spicer has been repeatedly attacking the First Amendment right. His statements have been outright lies and fabrications in the face of undeniable facts, like how many people attended the inauguration. This is something that really bothers me. Our country faces serious challenges, and lives are on the line. If this administration isn’t capable of facing issues like healthcare or foreign policy seriously, based on the facts and not alternative facts, then we’re in real trouble. And people will die. People serving in the military right now. I’m not willing to bet some young man or woman who’s just joined the Marine Corps like I did on the idea that Donald Trump is going to behave like a responsible Commander-in-Chief, based on the way he’s been acting.

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