U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner faced a loud and angry crowd at a town hall event on Monday evening at Whitworth University in Washington. The freshman Republican congressman was questioned about his voting record and his actions during President Donald Trump’s administration. The crowd regularly interrupted his answers, leading to a tense and chaotic meeting.
Baumgartner hinted that this might be his last in-person town hall for a while, suggesting he may switch to phone town halls to avoid further disruptions and safety issues.
Although 800 tickets were given out for the event, only a portion of the seats were filled, leaving many empty. The tickets were divided between general admission, students, and special groups like the college president and the Rockwood retirement community.
Many people in the crowd were upset with the Trump administration, especially regarding the loss of checks and balances in the government. At one point, Baumgartner asked the crowd to raise their hands if they voted for Trump. Only about a dozen people raised their hands, with most others loudly jeering.
Outside the auditorium, around 60 protesters gathered to express their frustration with Baumgartner. The situation became more heated when Baumgartner expressed support for some of Trump’s actions or criticized policies under former President Joe Biden. The crowd was especially vocal when Baumgartner talked about controversial topics like Medicare cuts or free speech.
One attendee, Mary Ellen Gaffney-Brown, asked about potential cuts to Social Security and expressed concerns over changes in the Social Security Administration. As she spoke, the crowd cheered and clapped for her, showing their strong support. Other questions from the audience also led to loud applause, especially those questioning Baumgartner’s stance on democracy and the Constitution.
The congressman tried to respond, but his answers were often interrupted by boos and jeers. When asked about healthcare cuts, some in the crowd shouted “liar” or “fraud.” Baumgartner, frustrated by the interruptions, asked the crowd to stand up and vent their frustrations before continuing.
Despite the chaos, Baumgartner insisted that he believed the town hall went “well,” but he called the crowd “rude” and disruptive. He also acknowledged that most people in the room hadn’t voted for him, which he believed was a big reason for the anger.
John Scheuring, one of the few conservatives present, was disappointed by the rude behavior of the crowd. “Never in my life have I seen so many older folks act so disrespectful,” he said.
The protest outside the event continued with chants and loud music, and veterans like Dave Strand voiced their anger over the Trump administration’s cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Strand, a Vietnam War veteran, felt betrayed by the government and Trump’s policies, saying, “I came home from Vietnam, betrayed, and I’m being betrayed again.”
Other protesters expressed their frustration over what they saw as harmful rhetoric from the Trump administration, especially regarding issues like annexing other countries and the treatment of women and minority groups.
At one point, Baumgartner made a controversial remark supporting the idea of annexing Canada and Greenland, which sparked more anger from the crowd. He later explained that his comments were meant as a joke, but the crowd was already too upset to take it lightly.
Baumgartner also addressed concerns over immigration, particularly a recent ICE raid in Spokane Valley. When asked about the incident, Baumgartner suggested that Washington should not be a sanctuary state, which led to further boos from the crowd. Afterward, he said he needed more information about the case before commenting further.
Throughout the night, Baumgartner faced repeated questions about the balance of power in the U.S. government, especially regarding President Trump’s actions. Baumgartner said that while it wasn’t healthy for court orders to be ignored, he believed that conflicts between the executive and judicial branches were nothing new.
The event also touched on healthcare, with Baumgartner stating that he did not support cuts to Social Security or Medicare but wanted to make changes to Medicaid. He faced strong opposition from the crowd, who expressed their support for universal healthcare.
In the end, the town hall showed just how divided the community is over Baumgartner’s actions and the direction of the country under President Trump. The crowd’s anger and frustration were clear, and Baumgartner’s responses were met with jeers and boos at nearly every turn.
Watch the clip below:
Incredible to be in a university where they ask students to be respectful to guest speakers and having a bunch of adults acting like children ! Very embarrassing how disrespectful people could be ! They didn’t let Mr Baumgartner answer the questions ! pic.twitter.com/bV4hrJ03Jg
— Nora monroe (@acctntm) March 18, 2025
