A town hall in Asheville descended into chaos as furious constituents—many of them veterans—confronted Rep. Chuck Edwards over Trump-era policies, Medicaid cuts, and his silence on Epstein links, forcing security to remove him mid-event.

At a Glance

• Rep. Chuck Edwards faced mass booing and public confrontation in Asheville, North Carolina
• Attendees accused him of betraying veterans and evading questions about Trump and Epstein
• Security was forced to escort Edwards from the venue amid chants of “Shame!”
• Video footage has gone viral, with one clip surpassing 4.5 million views overnight
• Veterans’ groups demand public apology and full policy accountability

Veterans Unleash on Stage

What was billed as a policy update town hall quickly spiraled into an eruption of anger as Rep. Chuck Edwards took the stage before a packed audience at an Asheville community center. The lawmaker opened with comments about fiscal responsibility, but he barely got through two sentences before boos cascaded from the back of the room.

Watch a report: LIVE: Rep. Chuck Edwards holds town hall in North Carolina · WLOS News 13

One veteran stood and shouted, “How do you justify cutting VA staff when your guy was flying with Epstein?” The crowd roared in approval, and a second man raised a laminated copy of Trump’s travel logs tied to Epstein’s island. Edwards tried to regain control by pivoting to border security, but voters drowned him out with chants of “Answer the question!” and “Coward!”

“Shame!” Echoes Across the Chamber

As Edwards attempted to leave the podium, another veteran confronted him face-to-face, demanding he address specific policy rollbacks affecting disabled soldiers. When Edwards refused, security intervened and escorted him toward a side exit—drawing even louder boos. Dozens of attendees stood and turned their backs in protest, chanting “Shame!” as he was rushed out.

The incident immediately went viral. A 38-second clip showing a Vietnam vet slamming his walker down and yelling “You abandoned us!” was reposted over 20,000 times in four hours. The hashtag #EpsteinEscape began trending in the Carolinas and beyond.

Local media followed up with live interviews of attendees. “We’ve had enough,” said one woman whose husband is undergoing surgery through the VA. “They want to talk about budgets and borders while people like my family are getting cut off. And they won’t even say Epstein’s name.”

Fallout and Fear Among Conservatives

By the next morning, Edwards’s office canceled all remaining in-person events for the month, citing “logistical concerns.” Party officials in North Carolina are reportedly urging candidates to consider virtual-only formats after the Asheville debacle. One campaign staffer called the event “a five-alarm fire” that could damage statewide momentum.

Veterans’ groups, including the North Carolina Veterans Coalition and VoteVets, released statements condemning Edwards and demanding accountability. Local Democrats have already aired radio ads replaying the “Shame!” chant.

Striking Shift In Voter Tone

Most striking is the shift in tone among once-loyal voters. “I voted red my whole life,” said one veteran in a TV interview, “but if you can’t even face us when we’re hurting, then maybe you don’t deserve our vote.”

With veterans leading the backlash and Trump’s name tied ever more closely to scandal, the Asheville town hall may be remembered not just as a PR disaster—but as a breaking point.