Iowans grill Sen. Chuck Grassley on Trump, tariffs and tax policy at town halls
Sen. Chuck Grassley swept through Central Iowa Thursday with stops in Greene, Guthrie, Adair and Polk counties. A town hall in Jefferson turned rowdy at times, as Iowans grilled the senior senator on Trump, tariffs and tax policy.
Sen. Chuck Grassley swept through Central Iowa Thursday with stops in Greene, Guthrie, Adair and Polk counties. A town hall in Jefferson turned rowdy at times, as Iowans grilled the senior senator on Trump, tariffs and tax policy.
Sen. Chuck Grassley swept through Central Iowa Thursday with stops in Greene, Guthrie, Adair and Polk counties. A town hall in Jefferson turned rowdy at times, as Iowans grilled the senior senator on Trump, tariffs and tax policy.
Sen. Chuck Grassley made several stops across Central Iowa Thursday as part of his 99-county tour, meeting face-to-face with constituents in Greene, Guthrie, Adair and Polk counties. But in some communities, tensions ran high as Iowans voiced frustration over tariffs, immigration policy, and what they see as unchecked presidential power.
In Jefferson, Grassley held a one-hour question-and-answer session where some constituents shouted concerns about the economy and the power of President Donald Trump. Protesters gathered outside, while inside, constituents pressed the senator on everything from deportation policy and due process rights to rising costs as recent tariffs take effect.
One woman asked Grassley, "Can you give all of us any hope at all that you could control the President of the United States?" Grassley said that everyone would laugh if he said that he could control the president, prompting shouts as someone yelled "Checks and balances" and others groaned.
During another stop on Thursday at a high school in Guthrie Center, a student asked Grassley for his perspective on tariffs. The senator responded that his "personal view" on tariffs differs from Trump's decision.
"I believe you get tariffs down by negotiation, and we've been doing that for the last 50 or 60 years with some success and some failures. The president takes a different view," Grassley said.
He also noted that countries are "coming to the table" to negotiate better trade deals.
"If it works, and I'm going to say, 'Thank you, Mister President.' If it doesn't work, I'm going to say, 'I told you so,'" Grassley said with a grin.
In Adair County, Grassley met with a smaller group of business owners at a coffee shop in downtown Stuart. While some praised Grassley for his conservative tax policy and support for the current GOP tax bill, others voiced frustration with cuts to federal agencies like the IRS.
One Stuart resident said she's struggled to get help for clients on important tax issues. She said, after months of trying, she's gotten no response from the IRS.
Grassley offered support from his office and vowed to get her an answer, but he also said that "more money and more help" is not the solution.
Despite the tense moments, many constituents thanked Grassley for showing up, especially as national Republican leaders have advised lawmakers to avoid town halls.
"This is the best way to get your opinions," Grassley said in Jefferson, reminding constituents that he was there to get their feedback. "Even when you're mad about something, and listen to it and give the best explanations I can give
The senator continues his push to visit all 99 Iowa counties—a tradition he’s upheld every year since 1980.
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