GOP congressman is shelled with questions about Trump during raucous town hall

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

May 4, 2025, 10:22 PM


SOMERS, N.Y. -- Voters in U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler’s suburban New York swing district unloaded a barrage of criticism on the Republican during a raucous town hall Sunday night, peppering him with questions around President Donald Trump’s aggressive agenda before devolving into a chaotic chorus of boos as attendees were removed by law enforcement. The town hall in Somers, a leafy section of Lawler’s Hudson Valley district, began to teeter off the rails soon after it began.

The first crack emerged when Lawler, in his opening remarks, told the packed out prep school auditorium “This is what democracy looks like." Laughter crept through the crowd. A little while later, the congressman's mention of federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drew loud jeers. “So you want, for instance, petroleum-based dyes to continue?” Lawler asked in response.

Republicans, in some instances, have made themselves scarce in their home districts following President Donald Trump’s first few months in office, as party leadership expresses wariness of viral blowback against Republicans in vulnerable seats. Lawler, a moderate who last year won a second term and has openly expressed interest in running for governor, has instead sought to put himself in front of voters, holding a previous town hall late last month and has plans for more in the coming weeks.

On Sunday, Lawler’s staff required people to RSVP and set up a series of ground rules, including that attendees live in the district, not record at the event, refrain from shouting or standing, and “be respectful of one another, of staff, and of the Congressman,” a sign at the door read. At one point, as Lawler was responding to a question about tariffs, security and law enforcement began to surround a woman in the upper stretch of the auditorium. The crowd chanted “let her stay, let her stay" before law enforcement picked her up and carried her out. It was unclear what exactly led to her removal. “Shame! Shame! Shame!,” the audience yelled.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/new-york-gop-congressman-shelled-questions-trump-raucous-121458724

[creon]

1. I am glad that he he had a hard tme.

Those people deserve a hard time

[Historic NY]

2. I hope they all remember this dope wants to be governor.

[EarlG]

3. "Lawler, a moderate who..."

…supports all the lawlessness and insanity that the Trump administration has engaged in over the last 100 days, including putting a brain damaged man who believes in chemtrails (but not germ theory) in charge of US health policy.

So that’s what we’re calling “moderate” these days is it, media?

[BumRushDaShow]

4. We definitely need to take that seat back

(was lost in 2022)

[Marcuse]

6. He was asked, "What qualifies you to call yourself a moderate?"

[dchill]

13. Ding, ding!

Very lightly sanded edges to avoid breaking the packaging.

[Abstractartist]

5. None of this

None of this townhall rhetoric will matter if….

1. These republicans just reelect the same candidates who are causing the problems.

2. The democrats (majority of) just sit on the sideline wringing their hands waiting and watching, instead of meeting with the disgruntled communities and attempting to work out solutions.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. Video of the woman, Emily Feiner, removed by law enforcement ...

NY17 Constituent and local social worker Emily Feiner was singled out and forcibly removed during Rep. Mike Lawler's town hall.

— Raider (@iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social) 2025-05-05T10:33:49.579Z

❤️

[Walleye]

11. Look at all those big strong men with their great big guns surrounding this poor little woman

I guess that makes him feel big and strong and the congressman as well. Now he can brag about how he won’t tolerate any dissension. Never mind he hauled possibly somebody’s grandmother out like that. The Republicans don’t just hate the United States. They hate humanity.

[cab67]

8. I'll give this guy credit for one thing -

and ONLY one thing: he's willing to hold multiple town-hall meetings in spite of what he's encountering.

If it were up to me, everyone in Congress would be required to hold such meetings in their district at regular intervals.

[MuirHero]

9. My GOP member of Congress has yet to hold a live Town Hall Meeting

I live in the PA-11th congressional district represented by Lloyd Smucker. Smucker was first elected to Congress in 2016 and has never held a live town hall meeting. He will only meet with selected groups of his constituents, typically business folks and major donors, privately who fawn over him and heap praise for everything he is doing. Smucker is gutless and spineless, the worst of the worst who will vote to cut our Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in a heartbeat. He does virtual telephone town halls every few months where they screen the questions and are a complete farce.

I live in the deep red PA-36th Senate district where James Malone flipped that +16 Trump district from red to blue in the recent special election and so we think we at least have a shot at unseating Smucker next year. I am a 35-year Democratic Committeeperson and we are working to identify a strong candidate to challenge Smucker next year.

[eggplant]

15. Welcome to DU!

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Smucker has a whole trail of dirty stories

He was one of the arrogant dumbasses to flaunt the security in the Capitol, and lost that battle -

Supreme Court denies Rep. Smucker’s appeal of fine for dodging capitol metal detector

And he was caught up in a campaign finance mess that pretty much fell out of the news cycle over the years (was lumped in with Nunes and others - wish I could remember the exact story and context as there were a bunch of Republicans on the list).

Smucker & the ex-con: Relationship includes travel, nearly $250,000 in campaign cash and donations

He went low profile when that blew up.

[Paladin]

10. The more disruptive town halls that Republicans face, the better.

Everybody, please do your part to see that it happens. We'll never take this country back, until our anger and outrage are on open display, from coast to coast.

[Walleye]

12. Aw, they're afraid of being contradicted and yelled at a little bit

They expect us to be polite when they have the rudest man in the United States in the oval office

[bluestarone]

14. When this lady was picked up out of her seat, lots of other people

Should have laid down in their path way. front of them and behind them. THAT has to happen at all future removals.

[Blue Owl]

17. Give these tRump ass-kissers HELL