Two tased at Marjorie Taylor Green town hall in Georgia
At a town hall in metro-Atlanta, Marjorie Taylor Greene was interrupted multiple times by protesters.
Republican lawmakers are continuing to face fired-up crowds at the few town halls held during the current congressional recess as President Donald Trump fires tens of thousands of federal employees, levels tariffs that have rocked the markets, and faces numerous lawsuits against his administration’s actions.
At a town hall in Fort Madison, Iowa, on April 15, GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley was repeatedly shouted down as attendees raised grievances with Trump’s administration.
“I’m pissed!” one man at the town hall shouted, as another asked Grassley: “Why won’t you do your job?”
On the same day, Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, met a raucous town hall divided between people who supported and opposed the president which culminated in a pushing match between four attendees.
“You in Congress have watched passively while your authority to levy tariffs was usurped by the president,” said one attendee at another town hall hosted by Mast that day.
In the nearly 90 days since Trump was sworn in to his second term in office, the administration has implemented sweeping changes. He has shrunk federal agencies and laid off tens of thousands of federal employees through the Department of Government Efficiency led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, ramped up deportations, implemented wide-reaching tariffs, and clashed with the federal judiciary.
A town hall held by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, on April 15 involved three people getting arrested and two people being tased by police after threatening officers. Multiple others were escorted out of the room for standing up and heckling, booing, or waving signs at Greene, to which she repeatedly said: “Bye.”
Greene took pre-screened questions displayed on a screen, and most seemed to support the president, but not all.
“Why is MTG supporting Musk and DOGE and the slashing of Medicaid, Social Security offices, libraries and more?” asked one attendee identified as Sarah.
In March, DOGE listed dozens of Social Security offices for which it planned to cancel real estate licenses. Dozens of federal grants for libraries, archives and museums have been terminated because Trump eliminated the agency that funds them. And Trump has said he will not cut Medicaid, but a new congressional plan may force lawmakers to pare back the program that provides healthcare to low-income Americans.
“Well, Sarah, unfortunately, you’re being brainwashed by the news that you’re watching,” Greene responded.
Lawmakers cautioned against town halls
The town halls come during Congress’ two-week break over the Passover and Easter holidays. Lawmakers will return to the Capitol on April 28.
House Republican leaders advised members in March to stop holding in-person town halls after numerous town halls were packed with people upset at the administration’s actions.
Some Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and President Donald Trump, have claimed without evidence that the people at town halls are paid protesters. Liberal grassroots advocacy groups such as Indivisible have encouraged people to attend congressional town halls, but there is no evidence that attendees are being paid.
More Americans have disapproved than approved of Trump’s job performance since March.