In Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards faced a charged atmosphere during a town hall meeting held in a packed college auditorium. As the gathering began, an attendee’s inquiry regarding President Donald Trump’s contentious trade policies prompted Edwards to seek a moment of patience from the animated crowd. “Let me answer, and if you don’t like it, you can boo or hiss or whatever you’d like to do,” Edwards remarked, noting fatigue in his demeanor. When he attempted to explain Trump’s use of tariffs as a strategic tool, the audience’s disapproval was immediate and vocal. Despite the hostility, Edwards pushed through with his explanation, finally conceding, “I’ll stop there and you can yell,” an invitation the crowd eagerly embraced.
Throughout the ninety-minute session, Edwards encountered relentless protests, critical questions, and verbal challenges regarding various policies of the Trump administration. The gathering, which brought together around 300 individuals inside, was just a fraction of those vexed by the policies, as the sounds of dissent echoed from over a thousand demonstrators outside. Amidst the disruption, Edwards acknowledged House Speaker Mike Johnson’s previous guidance to Republican colleagues to avoid such events due to what he described as orchestrated protests by “professional protesters.” However, Edwards expressed a desire not to shy away from dialogue, even amidst disagreement from his constituents in western North Carolina.
As the event unfolded, the interruptions mounted, leading Edwards to openly question the feasibility of hosting such forums. Asheville, a liberal enclave surrounded by more conservative regions that favored Trump in the 2024 election, proved to be a tough crowd. “And you wonder why folks don’t want to do these town halls,” Edwards mused, attempting to address the vocal audience.
In commencing the discussion, Edwards addressed the ongoing recovery efforts in western North Carolina following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. Despite detailing initiatives embraced by the Trump administration to aid recovery efforts, talk of potentially disbanding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) led to heightened agitation, with demands for direct responses to the audience’s inquiries. Emotions flared further when an individual was removed for aggressively confronting the congressman.
The questioning spanned a broad scope of topics, including concerns about potential funding cuts to government agencies under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, as well as the future of healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Discussions about job reductions at the Department of Veterans Affairs and America’s role in supporting Ukraine’s conflict with Russia drew particularly animated reactions, with some queries receiving standing ovations.
Despite the adversarial environment, Edwards remained largely aligned with Trump’s policy positions, emphasizing his role in understanding constituent dissatisfaction to inform potential federal adjustments. He adopted a positive tone throughout the tumultuous session, appreciating what he called the crowd’s “passion” and “patriotism.” In subsequent remarks to the press, Edwards underscored his belief that initiatives led by Trump and Musk are effectively targeting critical national issues. “I take away from what I heard today that we’re doing exactly what the American people sent us to Washington D.C. to do,” he concluded, even as protestors continued to voice their discontent outside the event.