'Rein in this dictator': Red state constituents confront GOP senator at tense town hall

15 April

A constituent in Fort Madison, Iowa questioning Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on April 15, 2025 (Image: Screengrab via CNN / YouTube)

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was met by a group of frustrated constituents who peppered him with questions about his deference to President Donald Trump during a packed town hall meeting.

CNN reported that Grassley fielded questions on a number of topics including tariffs, Medicaid funding and deportations during a Tuesday town hall in Fort Madison, Iowa. One constituent in particular prompted the audience to applaud when he confronted the Iowa Republican over Trump's treatment of Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to an El Salvadoran prison last month without a court hearing.

"We would like to know what you as the people, the Congress who are supposed to rein in this dictator, what are you going to do about these people have been sentenced to life imprisonment in a foreign country with no due process?" The man asked. "Our government. cannot do anything?"

CNN host Boris Sanchez asked reporter Steve Contorno – who was at the town hall — about the tone of the meeting. Contorno said that while there was "a lot of appreciation" for Grassley to face his constituents, there was still "considerable and palpable angst" toward Iowa's senior U.S. senator over constituents' perception that he wasn't doing enough to oppose the Trump administration's more controversial policies. One woman suggested Trump's treatment of immigrants fleeing violence was un-Christian.

"I believe very strongly in my Christian faith. I preach on Sundays, and I believe very strongly that we welcome the stranger," the constituent said. "I think turning away people who have come here for asylum is one of the most shameful things we are doing right now."

Another constituent asked Grassley of Abrego Garcia: "Are you gonna bring that guy back?"

Grassley responded: "That's not a power of Congress." The constituent then yelled: "The Supreme Court said to bring him back!" The Iowa senator then said "the president of [El Salvador] is not subject to our U.S. Supreme Court, prompting the audience to boo.

Watch the segment below, or by clicking this link.

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