Byron Donalds Hits Republicans for Ducking Town Halls Despite His Own Event Melting Down: ‘Every Member Should’ Have Them

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) disagrees with GOP leadership telling Republican lawmakers to avoid town halls, even after Donalds faced down protesters at his own heated event.

Donalds discussed his recent fiery town hall on Thursday with Fox Business’ Stuart Varney. At a Florida town hall earlier this month, Donalds battled demonstrators shouting objections to Elon Musk, DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), and more.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) suggested last month that GOP lawmakers find alternate ways to directly communicate with their voters after multiple town halls turned into heated shouting matches. Johnson argued town halls at the moment simply “give the other side soundbites.” He accused protesters of performing for cameras.

Donalds told Varney he disagrees with that logic and urged all Republicans to hold town halls.

“Why did you jump into the lion’s den?” Varney asked.

“Stu, that’s who I am. I heard what Republican leadership said, but I disagree. I think every member should be holding town halls in person with their constituents,” Donalds said, adding that Democrats are “organized” on the ground than ever before.

The lawmaker added that he’s happy to hear from protesting constituents, but he’s not afraid to remove people who take things too far, as he did at his last event where a pro-Palestine activist shouted at him about the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. Donalds said multiple others were also kicked out of the town hall.

“I’ve been holding town halls for five years. I never saw this many Democrats come to any one of my town halls, but they want to show up now,” he said. “That’s okay. That’s part of the process. But I if you want to come in, you want to make a scene, yell boo, we’re going to kick you out. And at the beginning of the town hall, we were very clear with people. Please be respectful.”

Watch above via Fox Business.