A Republican lawmaker was mercilessly interrupted and chided and sworn at by his North Carolina constituents during another embarrassing town hall Thursday evening.
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., held a town hall in Asheville, North Carolina, Thursday evening in a bustling 360-seat auditorium.
The Republican began by mentioning Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE effort cutting government spending when the audience first erupted in boos.
Republican leadership has warned rank-and-file members against hosting town halls after some have led to members getting roasted, like Rep.Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., who was ripped as a ‘nazi’ and ‘fascist’ by an unhinged activist.
Edwards decided to buck the advice of his leadership, and immediately suffered the consequences.
‘You’re not allowed to cut our jobs,’ one angry attendee interrupted.
‘Do your job,’ chimed in another. ‘Stand up to Trump!’
The room steadily grew louder and the residents more unruly. Edwards struggled to keep control over the hundreds as he stood at the front of the room, stammering at times, listening to the cacophony of complaints.
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-NC, speaks to a crowd during a congressional town hall meeting on March 13, 2025 in Asheville, North Carolina
Edwards planned the event despited Republicans having faced protestors at town halls recently. Many of the loud outbursts are critical of the Trump administration slashing federal jobs
Protestors screamed, yelled, swore and mocked Edwards throughout the event
‘Bootlicker!’ another yelled.
Another in the audience yelled out: ‘What do you plan to do to make sure North Carolina does not get taken over by dictatorship and fascism?’
Edwards had enough, admitting at one point: ‘And you wonder why folks don’t want to do these town halls.’
‘I feel like this is not productive with everybody yelling at me,’ he admitted.
The Republican spent a long time defending Congress’ recently passed funding bill and the president’s agenda.
‘That framework provides for Congress to secure the border, to promote American energy independence, to lower taxes and to make America more competitive.’
The audience was still roiling with boos and unruly outbursts
‘There’s also much that the President can do under his article two authority provided by the Constitution to rein in the size of government, the scale of government, which, over the decades, has become unwieldy.’
A man holds up a sign reading ‘That’s a LIE!’ during a congressional town hall meeting with Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) on March 13, 2025 in Asheville, North Carolina
Several people were removed from the event, including an older man claiming to be a veteran.
‘I’m a veteran and you don’t give a f*** about me,’ he screamed. ‘F*** you!’
‘You don’t get to take away our rights,’ he continued, before repeating more f-bombs.
The police had to get involved the man was so wound up.
Four officers were seen walking the man out as he continued to unleash on the lawmaker.
‘But let’s be real. We have some differing opinions here,’ Edwards noted at one point.
Towards the end of the night Edwards joked, ‘now that was fun.’