By Stacy M. Brown, BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent
Republican lawmakers are facing mounting pressure from angry voters at town hall meetings across the country. Constituents confront them over sweeping federal cuts, the dismantling of government agencies, and attacks on social safety net programs. In response, many Republicans are moving their town halls online, where they can pre-screen questions and avoid direct engagement with the public. Rather than acknowledging the widespread discontent, Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have resorted to false claims, accusing Democrats of organizing and paying protesters to disrupt GOP events.
“Paid ‘troublemakers’ are attending Republican Town Hall Meetings,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, insisting without evidence that the outrage was staged. Johnson echoed the claim in an interview with CNN, dismissing the anger at these events as “Democrats who went to the events early and filled up the seats.” When pressed, he admitted, “I don’t know.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries swiftly pushed back on the allegations. “Just got back to the Capitol. Another day, another lie from these people who are out of control,” Jeffries said in a video statement. “I’m told that Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, and the extreme right Republicans are claiming that Democrats are sending paid protesters into their town hall meetings. “What’s wrong with y’all? We don’t need to send paid protesters into your town hall meetings,” Jeffries continued. “The American people are with us all across the country. People are rising to push back against the assault on the economy, the assault on hardworking families, the assault on our democracy, and the assault on Medicaid. “We don’t need paid protesters, bro. The American people are with us.”
