ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Standing in front of a lively crowd at a town hall meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards urged attendees to hold their reactions until after he explained his stance on President Donald Trump’s trade policies. “Let me answer, and if you don’t like it, you can boo or hiss or whatever you’d like to do,” Edwards said, appearing visibly worn out as he addressed the attendees.
Edwards went on to elaborate on Trump’s use of tariffs as a method of negotiation. However, the crowd grew agitated in less than a minute, sparking an eruption of discontent. Despite the interruptions, Edwards continued to articulate his defense and concluded by inviting the crowd to express themselves, which they promptly did through a chorus of loud reactions.
Throughout the hour and a half-long event, Edwards faced relentless jeering, strong language, and probing questions concerning the policies enacted by Trump’s administration. The auditorium was filled with 300 attendees, while outside, a significantly larger gathering of over a thousand added to the cacophony of protests that reverberated throughout the session.
House Speaker Mike Johnson recently advised GOP members to skip town hall meetings, citing outside demonstrations as efforts of “professional protesters.” Edwards, however, chose to confront the Republican leader’s advice directly, asserting his willingness to engage with the residents of western North Carolina, regardless of differing opinions. Yet, just 30 minutes into the town hall, Edwards faced a shifting dynamic as the crowd grew increasingly disruptive. Asheville, a Democratic stronghold in a largely Republican region, contrasts with North Carolina’s overall support for Trump in the 2024 election.
At one point, Edwards questioned aloud, “And you wonder why folks don’t want to do these town halls,” trying to be heard over the shouting. The meeting began with discussions on the recovery efforts in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, which left a trail of destruction, resulting in over $59.6 billion in damages and a tragic loss of life. Edwards highlighted efforts under the Trump administration aiding in the region’s recovery but was met with demands for immediate answers to pressing questions. One attendee was removed for using profanities against Edwards.
“Listen to us now!” echoed from several parts of the room as people became more vocal. Edwards fielded intense questions spanning various subjects, including Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency’s impact on federal agencies, the future of Medicare and Medicaid, and cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Questions about the U.S.’s ongoing support for Ukraine garnered loud applause from the audience, many of whom expressed strong opinions on American foreign policy.
Through the intense exchanges, Edwards largely stood by Trump administration policies, emphasizing that part of his role involved understanding which decisions did not sit well with his constituents to enable government improvement. Despite the challenges, he maintained a positive demeanor, appreciating the crowd for their “passion” and “patriotism.”
Following the event, Edwards remarked in a news conference about how Trump and Elon Musk were “over the target” in their goals. “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 stated, even as protesters audibly continued to voice their frustrations outside.
