Amid protests, Republican leaders call for temporary end to town halls

• Republican leaders are calling for a temporary halt to town hall meetings following a series of outbursts and disruptions.
• President Trump suggested on Truth Social that “troublemakers” are being paid to attend these meetings.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the outbursts and encouraged Republican lawmakers to communicate with their constituents through other avenues.

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Following a series of outbursts, Republican leaders are calling for a temporary halt to town hall meetings. Videos circulating on social media show a woman being removed from an Idaho Republican town hall on Feb. 24 for heckling speakers. She has since filed a lawsuit against both the city and the sheriff’s department.

On Saturday, March 1, in Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., was booed while trying to leave for another appointment. All of these incidents led President Trump to post on Truth Social, suggesting that “troublemakers” are being paid to attend these Republican town hall meetings.

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What is Republican leadership saying?

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., condemned the outbursts at a Tuesday, March 4, press conference, stating, “There are people who do this as a profession; they’re professional protesters. So why would we give them a forum to do that right now? The best thing that our members can do is communicate directly, frequently and consistently with their constituents through other avenues than just going in to try to give the other side soundbites.”

Johnson encouraged Republican lawmakers to skip town halls and communicate with their constituents individually, avoiding open forums for now.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded on Twitter, “We don’t need to pay protestors; the American people are with us.”

The Hill reports that Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado is among the lawmakers planning to take the advice of Republican leaders.