Rep. Bryan Steil faced a wave of frustration and vocal dissent during a rare in-person town hall in Wisconsin, where constituents pushed back forcefully against his support of President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The Republican congressman encountered persistent interruptions, boos, and pointed questions on topics including immigration enforcement, trade policy, and what the administration has promoted as its “Big Beautiful” budget bill, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Video footage obtained by MSNBC’s Morning Joe captured several contentious moments. One woman drew applause when she asked, “Why are [ICE agents] wearing masks, and why are they unidentified?”
At one point, Steil attempted to shift blame to the previous administration. “We’ll probably agree to disagree on some of my answer here,” he began. “But what I view is the moral hazard created by the Biden administration by allowing the U.S. border…” He was quickly drowned out by boos and could not finish his point.
“It’s completely fine that we disagree,” he added, attempting to calm the room. “There’s nothing wrong with disagreeing on the topic.”
As tensions ran high, an elderly man stood and quietly expressed his disillusionment: “I am so disappointed.” His remark prompted another audience member to respond, “Yeah!” The man continued, “Southeast Wisconsin has not been represented by you. President Trump seems to run southeast Wisconsin through you… I will be out there working hard if you choose to run for any office.”
Another attendee criticized Steil directly, saying, “I don’t think you’re the right fit for us anymore. You just don’t relate to most of us… I think it’s time to go.”
Steil’s appearance follows similar events this summer in which Republican lawmakers struggled to defend the president’s policies in public forums. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa made headlines in June when, in response to criticism of the same budget plan, she said: “Well, we are all going to die.”
According to the Journal Sentinel, the Elkhorn Area High School auditorium was filled with about 250 attendees, while roughly 50 protestors gathered outside prior to the town hall, opposing Steil’s stance on the budget bill, which analysts project could lead to the loss of Medicaid coverage for tens of thousands of Wisconsinites.
This was Steil’s first in-person town hall since January, and reportedly the first public forum held by a Wisconsin Republican since March, after GOP leadership advised members to limit in-person events.
Now, as the 2026 midterm elections approach, Democrats are looking to capitalize on the discontent. Steil is one of two Republican House members from Wisconsin being targeted as potential flip opportunities.
