Rep. Derrick Van Orden skips town hall, cites antisemitism

Rep. Derrick Van Orden from Wisconsin did not attend a town hall meeting on Tuesday. He claimed that the attendees were paid protesters linked to billionaire George Soros. This accusation is part of a long-standing trend where some Republicans blame Soros for various issues. Van Orden claimed that groups funded by Soros disrupt town halls for Republican representatives. He stated that many Republicans are trying to engage with their constituents but are being interrupted by these so-called agitators. The Anti-Defamation League has noted that such claims often relate to antisemitic conspiracy theories involving wealthy Jews manipulating global politics. Critics argue that Van Orden's statements are baseless. Protesters attending the town hall were not paid; they are expressing concerns over cuts to essential programs like Social Security and Medicaid associated with the Trump and Musk administrations. Many Republicans who have faced crowds in town halls have heard similar frustrations. Meanwhile, because of Van Orden's absence, Democrats, led by Rep. Mark Pocan, held their own town hall in the district. Pocan noted that over 300 people attended, highlighting the lack of responsiveness from Van Orden. Van Orden has previously faced criticism for his behavior, including an incident where he verbally attacked high school students at the U.S. Capitol. He also threatened to report a disabled veteran who lost his job due to federal cuts. As Van Orden approaches the 2026 elections, he is seen as a vulnerable candidate. He won his last election by a very narrow margin and will likely face intense competition from Democrats in the next cycle.