ASHEVILLE, NC — Former President Donald Trump lashed out at Democrats and praised Rep. Chuck Edwards on Sunday after a contentious town hall in Asheville, calling attendees “paid agitators” and accusing Democrats of exploiting public forums to cause “trouble.”

Key Points

Trump praised Rep. Chuck Edwards after a rowdy town hall disrupted by protesters in Asheville.
He accused attendees of being “paid agitators” sent by Democrats to cause trouble.
Trump criticized Biden, FEMA, and Gov. Roy Cooper over hurricane response efforts in North Carolina.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he watched Edwards, a Republican congressman from North Carolina, host the event and claimed it was disrupted by “Radical Left Lunatics” who “scream, shout and use filthy language.” Trump alleged the protesters were not genuine constituents but “largely paid agitators, with fake signs and slogans.”

“Chuck put up with it, and was WONDERFUL!” Trump wrote, lauding Edwards’ demeanor during the event.

The former president also criticized President Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), claiming they “did nothing” for North Carolina following a recent hurricane that caused widespread damage in the state. Trump contrasted the federal response under his administration, saying, “we worked miracles, with ZERO HELP FROM THE DEMS.”

He further targeted North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, alleging the governor failed to act and left Republican lawmakers to handle recovery efforts. “Also remember, you have a Democrat Governor who is supposed to be doing the work that Chuck, and other Republicans, are doing,” Trump added.

The remarks come as Edwards, who represents North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, has faced vocal opposition during several public appearances. Trump’s endorsement may signal continued support from the former president ahead of the 2024 general election cycle.

Trump ended the statement with a warning to Republican voters not to be misled by what he called “infiltrated Town Halls,” adding, “It’s the only thing the Dems know how to do.”

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.