Mike Flood — booed at town hall — still stands by Trump’s agenda
Representative Mike Flood felt the full fury of his constituents over his support of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” at a town hall meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska this week.
Flood — a second-term Republican — hosted the public gathering Monday night where attendees loudly berated him about concerns that social safety net programs, namely Medicaid, would be affected by the president’s signature piece of legislation.
Attendees from the crowd of more than 700 also questioned the president’s controversial approach to immigration enforcement and repeatedly heckled Flood as he tried to defend the tax and spending measure. At one point many in the audience chanted “Tax the rich!”
The town hall, which has gone viral, wrapped up with chants of “Vote him out!”
In an interview with Morning Edition, Flood said “it’s important to stand in the town square and explain your votes and what it means to dispel misinformation and take questions,” noting that the “most spirited” attendees are regulars at his town halls and residents of the city.
“If you’re able bodied, you can work and you choose not to work, then you will not get free health care,” Flood said, referring to the added Medicaid work requirements in states that have expanded the safety net program.
Flood further detailed why he backs the changes made to Medicaid, Trump’s tariffs and how he hopes they will benefit his state by next year.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.