Republicans have been advised to scrap town halls after an avalanche of explosive protests rocked the party following cuts by President Donald Trump‘s administration.
Why It Matters
Constituents have berated GOP lawmakers over cuts made by Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly formed agency focused on slashing federal spending.
On Monday, Trump dismissed the town hall uproar as the work of “paid ‘troublemakers.'” Many Republican leaders echoed this, claiming the protests were orchestrated by Democrats rather than genuine voter outrage over the cuts.
Vice President JD Vance, center, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, right, applaud as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025, in Washington D.C…. Vice President JD Vance, center, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, right, applaud as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025, in Washington D.C. Win McNamee/Getty
What To Know
House Speaker Mike Johnson is urging Republican lawmakers to stop conducting in-person town halls as the GOP face angry crowds opposing the Trump administration’s federal budget cuts.
Representative Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, also conveyed the message during a closed-door meeting with House Republicans, according to three sources who spoke anonymously to Politico about the private discussion.
“We’ve seen this movie before,” Johnson said at a news conference.
“They’re professional protesters,” Johnson added. “So why would we give them a forum to do that right now?”
This aligns with the president’s claims that the demonstrations are driven by paid activists.
Republicans find themselves in a rare position—defending the deep budget cuts they have long championed, but seldom enacted, as the reductions impact federal programs their own constituents depend on.
Trump and Musk’s DOGE has laid off tens of thousands of federal workers, rapidly dismantling government programs in a drive to eliminate what they call waste, fraud, and abuse.
Furious constituents across the country have expressed concerns at Republican town halls, highlighting a growing pattern of public frustration over DOGE policies, particularly over Musk’s apparently vast influence.
Congressman Keith Self, a Texas Republican, faced a wave of jeers during a tense town hall event as hundreds of residents repeatedly interrupted him with chants of, “Vote you out!”
Self echoed Trump’s remarks that the town halls are full of paid Democratic activists. His district has been in GOP control since 1968.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social: “Paid ‘troublemakers’ are attending Republican Town Hall Meetings. It is all part of the game for the Democrats, but just like our big LANDSLIDE ELECTION, it’s not going to work for them!”
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said: “We don’t need paid protestors. The American people are with us.”
Representative Keith Self said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “Disruptive Democrats are fomenting outrage with the same old tired scare tactics. But the TRUTH is on our side. Over 77 million Americans voted for President Trump’s agenda.”
What Happens Next
The effects of DOGE’s budget cuts are expected to persist, with additional job losses anticipated.
