Anger over brutal Trump-Musk cuts erupts at town halls everywhere
While Republican U.S. House and Senate members rammed through a budget resolution that ruthlessly slashes Medicaid and other vital human services to fund massive tax cuts for plutocrats, they are hiding from growing anger among their constituents.
Scenes from eight raucous Town Halls held last week went viral, and now GOP leadership is telling members not to hold in-person town halls, fearing voter backlash. Others are blaming the town halls on the work of “left-wing” activists.
“The reason you mainly see those viral moments in ruby red districts is that every Republican in even remotely competitive districts is actively avoiding their constituents,” tweeted Indivisible co-chair Leah Greenberg.
“Lawmakers are spooked enough about the prospects of heated exchanges that most do not want to do town halls anyway,” an anonymous Republican told NBC News.
GOP congressional leaders have yet to introduce the final budget. However, anger over Musk’s unaccountable role in government, Trump’s unilateral cancellation of already allocated funding, the firing of federal workers, reckless tariffs, and fears of cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security are contributing to declining approval ratings for both Trump and Musk. Currently, 53% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy.
Meanwhile, at packed Town Halls, constituents are sharing their frustrations with GOP Representatives, upset that Congress has submissively and unconstitutionally relinquished its authority to the executive branch without protest.
In Oshkosh, Wisc., Rep. Glen Grothman, R, faced a hostile crowd that wanted answers. “This is moving very quickly compared to other administrations, and I think, across the board, (Trump’s) done some very good things,” Grothman said.
Boos and shouts erupted around the room, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. Grothman went on to praise orders ending birthright citizenship and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and attendees greeted him with louder boos.
Grothman called for “welfare reform” with a work requirement. Several people shouted, “no!”
Meanwhile in West Bend, Wisc., Republican Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, appeared at what was described as a “fiery” town hall as angry constituents confronted him on GOP plans to slash spending and Trump’s policy on Ukraine.
“The result of the fraud and abuse that has been discovered already,” Fitzgerald said, in defending Musk’s DOGE cuts, eliciting hoots and boos.
One attendee, Michael Wittig, was concerned about Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration. He held a sign that read, “Presidents are not kings.”
“Are you going to subpoena him at some point? Are you willing to use your subpoena power to tell Musk to stand in front of Congress and answer some hard questions?” asked Wittig.
If there were GOP supporters present, they didn’t speak up.
Texas Rep. Pete Sessions faced angry constituents during what he believed would be a standard report-back session. “The executive can only enforce laws passed by Congress; it cannot create laws,” one attendee remarked. “When will you reclaim control from the executive and stop hurting your constituents?”
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, faced similar outrage at a town hall in Urbana, where attendees lambasted him for not opposing Trump’s policies. During an appearance on Fox News, Jordan mocked outrage about the firing of federal workers and attempted to defend the administration’s approach, citing the need for fiscal responsibility and economic growth.
However, his remarks were met with jeers, particularly when he mentioned the proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. “We need to make tough choices,” Jordan said, only to be interrupted by a chorus of boos.
In what has become a pattern, several GOP lawmakers are choosing virtual town halls to sidestep the confrontation of in-person meetings. However, these virtual sessions have also faced criticism. Constituents have inundated online forums with questions and complaints, urging their representatives to justify their support for the executive branch’s controversial decisions.
At a news conference with Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffie, Rep. Kevin Kylie (R-Cal) was heartily booed by protesters when he proudly announced the Trump administration was cutting funding for California’s high-speed rail system.
Protesters yelled “No kings, only trains” and “Bring back Pete!” at Kylie and Duffie. California transportation officials later sharply disputed Kylies claims the project was a failure.
In Belton, Missouri, GOP Rep. Mark Alford hosted a town hall in a venue designed for 50 people, yet more than 150 attended. He faced persistent boos and shouting.
Alford was unconcerned with the firings of federal workers, even though his wife was one of those laid off. He even had the gall to say, “God has a plan” for those fired.
Daniel Scharpenburg, VP of a National Treasury Employees Union local, responded, “We don’t need thoughts and prayers…We need people to stand up for us.”
In Kanas, GOP Sen. Jerry Moran refused to attend a virtual town hall where hundreds of residents from across the state had gathered. The organizers taped a picture of the AWOL Senator to an empty chair and held the event anyway.
Rep. Rich McCormick faced angry constituents in a town hall in Roswell, Georgia. “Tyranny is rising in the White House. The man has declared himself our king,” said one constituent to cheers. “What are you and your colleagues going to do to rein in the megalomaniac in the White House?”
McCormick attempted to turn the tables, stating that he had the same conversation with constituents during the Biden administration. The room erupted in derisive boos.
In Harrisburg, Pa., constituents protested in front of Rep. Scott Perry’s district office, demanding he protect Medicaid and Medicare.
Republican Representatives are also getting blasted on the House floor. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. chastised one GOP South Carolina representative who proudly voted for the GOP budget resolution.
“74,000 of his constituents receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act,” said McGovern. “By supporting this resolution, he’s betraying the 148,948 constituents in his district who depend on Medicaid for their essential care. And the 85,000 constituents in the fifth district rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Maybe do a town hall and listen to constituents rather than just big donors.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., spoke with other elected officials before a virtual town hall of 34,000 Vermonters in a state of 650,000 people.
Sanders is also visiting red states, addressing overflow crowds on a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour that includes Nebraska and Iowa. In Iowa City, he slammed Trump and Musk and urged people to take action by recalling past victories in independence from England, the struggles for women’s rights, equal rights, and the abolition of slavery.
Constituents are also flooding the phone lines of Democrat elected officials with calls to speak more forcefully. Many have, including Senators Chris Murphy, Schatz, and Warren, and members of the House, including Reps. Rashida Talib, Jasmine Crockett, Jamie Raskin, Ayanna Pressley, and others.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez conducted an online Know Your Rights meeting with thousands of constituents, which drew the ire of Border Czar Tom Homan.
Democratic Attorney Generals from Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon will begin holding Community Impact Hearings — a national series of town halls “to hear from the public about the impact of federal firings and DOGE funding freezes across the country.”
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Originally published at https://peoplesworld.org on February 28, 2025.
