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Tensions ran high Thursday evening as Republican Congressman Bryan Steil faced a hostile crowd at his first town hall since the controversial passage of President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Eko Hot Blog reports that the event held at Elkhorn High School, drew around 200 attendees, many of whom arrived with protest signs reading “Resist,” “God is King no Others,” and “Hands off SSI and Medicare.” As Steil stepped on stage, he was met with a loud chorus of boos that overwhelmed the cheers from a smaller group of his supporters.
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The atmosphere quickly turned confrontational, with audience members repeatedly shouting over Steil’s microphone and making it difficult for him to respond to questions. He stopped often, urging the crowd to remain respectful and allow a civil exchange.
The questions ranged from federal funding for cancer research and the legality of Trump’s tariffs to the morality of immigration raids carried out by masked agents. One woman accused Steil of staying silent in the face of aggressive deportation policies.
“What I see happening to immigrants horrifies me,” she said. “And you’ve never spoken out. That’s not leadership, it’s blind loyalty.”
In defense, Steil applauded Trump’s immigration stance, blaming President Biden for creating what he called a “moral hazard” at the southern border. His remarks were met with another wave of loud boos.
“I believe the U.S.-Mexico border must be secured,” he added. “It’s okay that we disagree.”
When questioned about Trump’s imposition of tariffs without congressional approval, Steil did not directly address Congress’ role. Instead, he reiterated that Trump’s goal was to protect American interests, especially from what he called China’s long-standing abuse of U.S. trade policy.
For some attendees, the night became too much. Carol Stanczak of Walworth County walked out midway through the event, saying she came to hear answers but was met with chaos.
“This isn’t the American way,” she said. “I don’t know if these people were paid to be disruptive, but they didn’t let him speak. I support Bryan even more now.”
Another supporter, Kevin Roblee of Lake Geneva, voiced his frustration from the back of the room, shouting occasionally for the crowd to let Steil answer.
“This wasn’t about Bryan,” Roblee said. “It was a direct attack on Trump. People came in with their minds made up.”
On the other hand, critics like Mary Burpee of Elkhorn said the outrage was justified. A retired union staffer and local organizer, Burpee accused Steil of avoiding public accountability for nearly a year.
“Under normal circumstances, I’d support respectful discourse,” she said. “But today, he deserved every bit of that backlash. People are angry especially after the passage of that horrible, so-called Big Beautiful Bill.”
Earlier in the week, Burpee had joined a symbolic protest outside Steil’s Janesville home, leaving a cardboard coffin on his doorstep. The gesture, which attracted national attention, was meant to represent what protesters called “the death of democracy,” not a personal threat.
Democratic leader Susan Chandler, who chairs the party’s 1st Congressional District delegation, also defended the disruption.
“People had every right to express their frustration,” she said. “Steil dodged every real question. He may be polished, but it’s time for him to go.”
As the event ended and attendees left the auditorium, someone hung a handmade sign on the entrance that read “No Kings.”
Despite the backlash, Steil remains a strong incumbent in one of Wisconsin’s few competitive districts, with a solid lead in early campaign fundraising.
Click here to watch Video of Steil being booed
