“He’s no moderate”: Republican rising star has a rough time at his New York town hall

Rep. Mike Lawler, a moderate Republican from New York considering a run for governor, faced a challenging crowd this week, revealing public dissatisfaction with the Trump administration. During his recent in-person town hall event at Clarkstown South High School, attendees expressed frustration over the screening process for questions and concerns about Lawler’s alignment with President Trump’s policies.

Many constituents, including Vincent Solar and Taylor Mandelbaum, attended the town hall to seek genuine answers from Lawler on various issues, such as Medicaid cuts and funding reductions to important programs. Some attendees, like Brian Hall, acknowledged Lawler’s policies but were critical of his approach to press freedom and his stance on controversial Trump administration actions.

The event was marked by groans and skepticism from the audience, especially when Lawler claimed he did not support Medicaid cuts despite his voting record indicating otherwise. Protesters outside the event voiced concerns about Lawler’s alignment with Trump’s extreme policies and his failure to stand up for democratic values.

Lawler’s reception reflects a broader trend of Republican lawmakers facing backlash in their districts over their support for Trump and controversial policies like Medicaid cuts and mass deportations. The growing dissatisfaction with Trump and his allies has led to declining approval ratings for the former president and increased scrutiny on Republican representatives aligning with his administration.