GOP Rep Faces Angry Crowd at Town Hall Meeting
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) felt the wrath of constituents over the huge tax and spending bill, the trade war, and the crackdown on immigration when speaking during a town hall in Chico, California, on Monday.
Tensions ran so high that LaMalfa, who was reportedly holding his first in-person forum in close to eight years, was repeatedly called a 'liar' when doing his utmost to justify the president's policies.
LaMalfa joins a growing cast of GOP politicians who have been given a raucous reception when meeting voters.
Earlier this month, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) was heckled relentlessly when confronted over Medicaid cuts, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and ICE detentions.
PBS / Via pbs.org
LaMalfa, who represents a large rural area of Northern California, held the town hall despite GOP top brass ordering an end to in-person events because of the rise of so-called 'professional protesters.'
A major flashpoint in Chico came when a constituent asked LaMalfa, 'Why are you part of this movement toward fascism?'
After LaMalfa asked him to 'stop right there,' the constituent continued with his actual question. He went on: 'If you're not here to announce your resignation, why aren't you here to apologize to the farmers of the North State because of your support for the Trump tariffs?'
'Do you actually want to talk about something productive?' LaMalfa replied, before suggesting the inquiry was 'grandstanding.'
Against a backdrop of jeering and a distinct cry of 'You're a loser, Doug,' the congressman outlined how farmers in India had undercut growers in the region, so someone needed to be 'bold enough' to take action on tariffs.
'You're a little loose with the word 'fascism' when there's plenty of it going on on the other side of the aisle,' LaMalfa added, without giving details on the Democratic Party.,
LaMalfa was also drowned out by boos when delivering the standard Republican line about eliminating 'waste and fraud' to justify cutting Medicaid.
GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa held a town hall — and was drowned out by an uproar of boos from constituents.
When he tried to bring up Medicaid a constituent shouted: "YOU CUT OUR HEALTH CARE" pic.twitter.com/9mIq1WJxgY
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) August 11, 2025
@MorePerfectUS / Via Twitter: @MorePerfectUS
'We don't want anybody to be harmed by this effort,' he said. 'Indeed, we want the focus to be on those folks that actually do qualify. And that will be a bigger win for them.'
'You liar!' was one audible response among the dissonance.
Also at the town hall, an attendee who said their parents were Holocaust survivors compared Japanese internment camps of World War II to ICE raids and deportations under Trump.
'Will the name LaMalfa be mentioned in the same sentence as [Hitler's propaganda chief Joseph] Goebbels, [Nazi physician Josef] Mengele, and Trump?' the constituent asked.
'I predict no,' LaMalfa replied.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
a minute ago
- Newsweek
ICE Detains Man With 'Pending' Green Card Application After Car Crash
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Oladipo Oyeneyin, a Nigerian-born man who has lived in the United States for more than 15 years and has a "pending" green card application, was arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a car crash, according to an online fundraiser. Newsweek has reached out to ICE via email and to the GoFundMe page for comment on Wednesday. Why It Matters Oyeneyin's detention comes amid an immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, with the president having pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Immigrants residing in the country both illegally and legally, with valid documentation such as green cards and visas, as well as those with criminal histories, have been detained. The Trump administration has deported thousands of people to their countries of origin, as well as a smaller percentage to third countries with U.S. agreements. It has also encouraged individuals without proper documentation to self-deport. What To Know A GoFundMe created on Oyeneyin's behalf says he was in a car accident "but not as the person at fault," last week. The online fundraiser continued, "he was arrested and charged with hit-and-run and evading arrest." Oyeneyin, 48, was then held by ICE due to his immigration status, the online fundraiser says. Newsweek has confirmed in the ICE database tracker that he is held in the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas. The center has a capacity of around 1,300 people and is run by the Geo Group. The GoFundMe notes that Oyeneyin has lived in the U.S. for over 15 years and that "his green card application has been pending for years." His next immigration court date is reportedly in January 2027. The fundraiser noted that Oyeneyin lost his job and was unable to pay his former immigration attorney, "which caused delays in completing necessary steps for his case — steps he was determined to finish before his hearing." In 2018, Oyeneyin was charged with assaulting a family member in Houston, according to court documents reviewed by Newsweek. The charge was a misdemeanor class A. The judge placed him on probation in 2022. Another Texas court report shows that in 2019, Oyeneyin was arrested by the Harris County Sheriff's office for driving while intoxicated. Inset: Oladipo Oyeneyin. Main: National Guard and other law enforcement stationed in Eagle Pass, Texas, on March 20, 2024. Inset: Oladipo Oyeneyin. Main: National Guard and other law enforcement stationed in Eagle Pass, Texas, on March 20, 2024. GoFundMe/Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP What People Are Saying Ikenna Ezeaju, who organized the GoFundMe for Oladipo Oyeneyin, wrote in the online fundraiser: "Oladipo Oyeneyin is a kind, hardworking person who simply wants the chance to clear his name, continue his life here, and contribute to the country he's called home for most of his adult life." Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement previously shared with Newsweek: "Under Secretary [Kristi] Noem, we are delivering on President Trump's and the American people's mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens to make America safe. Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst and carry out the largest deportation operation of criminal aliens in American history." What Happens Next U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released its September 2025 visa bulletin, providing key updates for applicants across family-based, employment-based, and diversity visa categories. USCIS currently has 11.3 million pending applications.
Newsweek
a minute ago
- Newsweek
Map of Countries That Have Nominated Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump has been publicly backed for the Nobel Peace Prize by the leaders of multiple countries following a series of high-profile diplomatic engagements hosted at the White House and elsewhere, while his allies in Washington and abroad submit nominations on his behalf. Why It Matters The Nobel Peace Prize award is among the world's most prominent international honors and hasn't been won by a Republican U.S. president since Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. While these recent endorsements underscore the prize's global profile, several of the governments backing Trump's nomination—including Rwanda, Israel, Gabon, Azerbaijan, and Cambodia—are led by authoritarian figures, military juntas, or leaders facing international arrest warrants. Such factors could complicate the symbolism of their support for the U.S. leader. (L) U.S. President Donald Trump awaits the arrival of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House on August 8, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (R) FILE - In this April 17, 2015 file photo,... (L) U.S. President Donald Trump awaits the arrival of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House on August 8, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (R) FILE - In this April 17, 2015 file photo, a national library employee shows a gold Nobel Prize medal in Bogota, Colombia. More Andrew Harnik//AP Photo What To Know Which Countries Have Nominated Trump and Why? Pakistan announced on June 20 it would nominate Trump after diplomatic interactions during a May conflict between India and Pakistan that ended in a ceasefire; the Pakistan government described the nomination as recognizing his "decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter he said he had sent to the Nobel Committee nominating the president for the prize during a White House visit in July. On August 7, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that he nominated Trump after a July ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand that ended a five-day long clash between Thai and Cambodian forces at their long disputed border in July. The skirmish left more than 40 people dead on both sides and forced some 300,000 to flee. "[Trump's] consistent pursuit of peace through diplomacy aligns perfectly with Alfred Nobel's vision, honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to international fraternity and the advancement of peace," said Manet. Armenia and Azerbaijan publicly signaled support for a Nobel nomination for Trump after a White House summit on August 8 that culminated in a joint agreement between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Both leaders praised the U.S.-hosted framework and said they would back a nomination. "I think President Trump deserved to have the Nobel Peace Prize," Pashinyan said at the White House, "and we will defend that, we will promote for that." Newsweek emailed Pashinyan's press office for comment as well as the office of the Azerbaijani president. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema have also both publicly endorsed the idea of awarding Trump the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in helping to end a decades-long conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In an interview with Breitbart News, Nduhungirehe said, "Anyone, including President Trump, who would help sizably to bring this conflict to an end deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Absolutely." Similarly, Nguema praised Trump's efforts in central Africa: "He is now bringing peace back to a region where that was never possible so I believe that he does deserve a Nobel Peace Prize. That is my opinion." Newsweek emailed the Rwandan foreign ministry for comment, and also the Gabonese government via an online form. Other Nominations Republican Representative Buddy Carter of Georgia said he submitted a letter nominating Trump for actions tied to a June ceasefire framework between Israel and Iran, according to reporting. His House colleague Claudia Tenney, a New York Republican, revealed earlier this year she had nominated Trump twice, and planned to do keep doing so until he gets the prize. "He has done more for world peace than any modern leader," she wrote on X. Republican Senators Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee have also called on the president to be nominated. Norwegian law professor Anta Alon-Beck said she had nominated Trump in early February, for his efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. How Many U.S. Presidents Have Won the Nobel Peace Prize? Four U.S. presidents have received Nobel Peace Prizes: Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 for mediating the Russo-Japanese War, Woodrow Wilson in 1919 for founding the League of Nations, Jimmy Carter in 2002 for postpresidential humanitarian and diplomatic work through the Carter Center, and Barack Obama in 2009 for his early-term diplomacy and coalition-building efforts. Multiple other U.S. officials have been awarded the prize too. Former Vice President Al Gore shared the prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007, "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change." Another vice president, Charles Dawes, won the award in 1925 for his work on the Dawes Plan to stabilize Europe after WWI. Four secretaries of state have also been Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Elihu Root, Frank B. Kellogg, George C. Marshall, and Henry Kissinger. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump said: "I've stopped six wars—I'm averaging about a war a month." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "It is well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize." John Bolton, former national security adviser to Trump, said in an interview on ABC: "I don't think what [Trump] has done materially changes the situations in any of those circumstances or several others he's mentioned … I think what Trump has done is make it clear that he wants a Nobel Peace Prize more than anything else. And the way to his heart, as Pakistani chief of staff [Asim] Munir found and Netanyahu found, is offer to nominate him." What Happens Next The deadline for nominations for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize closed on January 31, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee will not publicly confirm nominees; the 2025 laureate was scheduled to be announced on October 10, while the committee's official candidate list will remain sealed for 50 years. Meanwhile, as Trump has renewed diplomatic outreach—initiating high-level talks, proposing ceasefire plans, dispatching envois, and arranging a summit with Putin—his efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war remain unfulfilled. This article contains reporting from The Associated Press
Associated Press
a minute ago
- Associated Press
Appeals court lets the White House suspend or end billions in foreign aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided panel of appeals court judges ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration can suspend or terminate billions of dollars of congressionally appropriated funding for foreign aid. Two of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concluded that grant recipients challenging the freeze did not meet the requirements for a preliminary injunction restoring the flow of money. In January, on the first day of his second term in the White House, Republican President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to freeze spending on foreign aid. After groups of grant recipients sued to challenge that order, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ordered the administration to release the full amount of foreign assistance that Congress had appropriated for the 2024 budget year. The appeal court's majority partially vacated Ali's order. Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson and Gregory Katsas concluded that the plaintiffs did not have a valid legal basis for the court to hear their claims. The ruling was not on the merits of whether the government unconstitutionally infringed on Congress' spending powers. 'The parties also dispute the scope of the district court's remedy but we need not resolve it ... because the grantees have failed to satisfy the requirements for a preliminary injunction in any event,' Henderson wrote. Judge Florence Pan, who dissented, said the Supreme Court has held 'in no uncertain terms' that the president does not have the authority to disobey laws for policy reasons. 'Yet that is what the majority enables today,' Pan wrote. 'The majority opinion thus misconstrues the separation-of-powers claim brought by the grantees, misapplies precedent, and allows Executive Branch officials to evade judicial review of constitutionally impermissible actions.' The money at issue includes nearly $4 billion for USAID to spend on global health programs and more than $6 billion for HIV and AIDS programs. Trump has portrayed the foreign aid as wasteful spending that does not align with his foreign policy goals. Henderson was nominated to the court by Republican President George H.W. Bush. Katsas was nominated by Trump. Pan was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden.
