Topline
President Donald Trump called on Republican lawmakers to eject protestors from town hall meetings in their districts in a Truth Social post Sunday, after several GOP lawmakers faced angry constituents questioning the Trump administration’s policies and actions over the past few weeks.
President Donald Trump arrives on Marine One at the White House.
Key Facts
In the post, the president attacked the protestors and said GOP lawmakers “should not treat them nicely” and have them “immediately ejected from the room.”
Trump claimed without evidence that “Radical Left Democrats” were “paying a fortune to have people infiltrate the Town Halls” and described the protesting constituents as “disruptors and troublemakers.”
The president said the protests may lead to the lawmakers’ audience believing “there is dissension in the Party,” and insisted this was not the case, as “there is only LOVE and UNITY.”
“Republicans are happy with what is taking place in our Country,” he added.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
What Do We Know About Protests At Gop Lawmakers’ Town Halls?
Since February, several Congressional Republican leaders have faced angry constituents and protests at their town halls. The demonstrations have broadly been in opposition to various Trump administration policies, including the actions of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, the impact of tariff policies and fears of cuts to social safety net programs, among others. While many GOP lawmakers have cut back on holding such town halls, some like Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have held such events in the past two weeks. Grassley was confronted and even jeered at during his event earlier this month, as constituents confronted him with questions about the Trump administration’s deportations of migrants to a prison in El Salvador. At least two people were removed from a town hall organized by Donalds, where the Florida Republican fielded angry questions and was booed as he defended Trump’s policies on matters like tariffs, immigration and DOGE’s cuts to government programs. Six protestors were removed from Greene’s town hall, where she only responded to pre-screened questions, including one where she mocked criticism of Trump’s tariff policies. At least two demonstrators removed from Greene’s town hall were tased by the police.
What Do We Know About Trump’s Polling Numbers?
The angry confrontations and protests at GOP town halls comes amid a sharp decline in Trump’s approval ratings—which many polls show are a now in the negative. An NBC News poll published over the weekend found 55% of Americans disapproved of Trump’s handling of the presidency, while 45% approved. A New York Times/Sienna Poll from last week showed that Trump’s approval rating was a 42% while his disapproval numbers were at 54%. A Pew poll from earlier this month showed an even bigger 59% disapproval rating for Trump, compared to only 40% who approved his handling of his job.
Further Reading
Republican town halls bring arrests, stun guns and voter worries about Trump (Reuters)
