Republicans Who Back Trump Getting an Earful at Raucous Town Halls

Jeering crowds, a man jabbing his finger and swearing — it is not easy these days for some Republican members of Congress as they face their constituents in town halls dominated by rage over US President Donald Trump's radical cost-cutting policies.

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WASHINGTON — Jeering crowds, a man jabbing his finger and swearing — it is not easy these days for some Republican members of Congress as they face their constituents in town halls dominated by rage over US President Donald Trump's radical cost-cutting policies.

While Republican politicians risk running into loud and angry voters, Democratic lawmakers have found themselves getting berated in public for not doing enough to oppose Mr. Trump.

The ill-tempered landscape reflects the level of polarization in the US just two months into Mr. Trump's second presidency.

At one such town hall gathering in March in Asheville, North Carolina, Representative Chuck Edwards was jeered by people demanding he explain his support for Mr. Trump, who has fired off multiple executive orders to shrink the federal government and axed legions of civil servants.

At one point, a man in the crowd stood up, pointed his finger at Mr. Edwards and screamed, berating him over some of the many spending cuts Republicans plan to carry out in the coming months.

“You’re lying. I’m a veteran. You don’t get to take away our rights,” the man yelled.

Mr. Edwards signaled for security to escort him out of the room.