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Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., faced a rowdy crowd at a town hall with constituents Thursday evening, the latest such event to go viral on social media as Republicans face backlash over President Donald Trump’s mass layoffs of federal workers and budget cuts.
In video captured by NBC News affiliate WYFF, Edwards spoke in front of a packed auditorium in Asheville, North Carolina — until he was drowned out by the jeers of attendees.
“I was proud to vote recently for the House budget resolution, which provides the framework” — Edwards told the crowd before cutting himself off as boos washed over him, while other attendees raised their hands to give him a thumbs-down.
Afterward, Edwards was greeted outside by protesters holding Ukrainian and Palestinian flags and signs that read “Fire Elon,” referring to Trump adviser Elon Musk, who has led the Department of Government Efficiency’s effort to fire thousands of federal workers in recent weeks.
Edwards represents North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, a solidly Republican area that includes Asheville and surrounding rural communities. The congressman won it by more than 13 percentage points in 2024.
But he decided to hold Thursday’s town hall after the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which works to get Republicans elected to the House, advised Republican lawmakers against doing such in-person meetings because of repeated constituent confrontations. House Speaker Mike Johnson.R-La., also cautioned lawmakers against holding such open forums to connect with their constituents.
In a statement to NBC News on Friday, Edwards said, “Being accessible, listening, and answering questions for the people of Western North Carolina are among my favorite activities. We may not agree on every issue, but hearing the concerns of Western North Carolinians and answering their questions will continue to be a priority of mine.”
“I was able to answer questions from multiple different constituents at the town hall, and dispel some of the misinformation currently being spread around. I look forward to doing so again soon at my upcoming tele-town hall,” the congressman added.
Other congressional Republicans have faced similar disruptions at their town hall events. Generally, the protests have centered around the mass layoffs of federal workers, President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Ukraine’s leadership as his administration pushes for a ceasefire in the country’s war with Russia and the House Republicans’ passage of a budget blueprint that would make deep cuts, potentially including to programs like Medicaid.
Earlier this month, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, left a town hall early after constituents confronted him about the employees working at DOGE.
And in Texas, GOP Rep. Keith Self faced criticism and chants of “Vote you out,” during a town hall in his district a few weeks ago.
In response, Republicans have accused Democrats of organizing protesters to disrupt their events, which Democrats have denied.
But on Friday, the House Democrats’ campaign committee, alongside the Democratic National Committee and state Democratic parties, announced a series of town halls in Republican-held districts across the country, accusing GOP lawmakers of dodging their voters.
Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, accused Republican House lawmakers of being “terrified to be in the same room as the people who sent them to Washington,” citing the advice from the NRCC for GOP lawmakers to avoid town halls.
“If they won’t talk to their own voters, then Democrats will. That’s why we’ll be hosting People’s Town Halls in all 50 states across the country, starting now with vulnerable GOP-held target districts,” Martin added.
Edwards’ district is not one of those that Democrats will be appearing in, as they plan to focus on competitive districts that tend to be decided by more narrow margins that North Carolina’s 11th.
Alexandra Marquez is a politics reporter for NBC News.
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