Rep. Mike Flood Faces Fiery Town Hall Backlash Over Trump Ties and “Big Beautiful Bill” Vote

Nebraska Representative Mike Flood faced an intense and, at times, hostile reception at a town hall in Seward this week, as constituents erupted in protest over his support for the controversial “Big Beautiful Bill” and his loyalty to former President Donald Trump. Held at Seward High School and livestreamed by News Channel Nebraska, the event showcased growing frustration among local voters over the direction of Republican leadership in Washington.

Even before questions began, the room was already tense. Boos and jeers echoed through the auditorium as Flood, a Republican representing Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District, began outlining his legislative accomplishments, including efforts to reduce tariffs on local manufacturers like Kawasaki in Lincoln. But the crowd’s patience quickly dissolved when the Q&A began.

The flashpoint came when Flood admitted he had not read a provision in the sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill” before casting his vote in favor of it. The clause, which complicates judicial enforcement of contempt orders, sparked outrage from attendees—especially given Flood’s background as a trained attorney and former state senator.

“This provision was unknown to me when I voted for the bill,” Flood confessed. “When I found out, I immediately reached out to my Senate counterparts to express my concern.” His admission was met with loud shouts and chants from the crowd, and while Flood attempted to clarify his position on the rule of law and the judiciary, the damage had already been done.

Further questions targeted his support for cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), both of which are expected to be significantly affected by the bill. Flood claimed that undocumented immigrants were the main targets of the cuts, suggesting they wouldn’t impact Nebraska residents. But when he turned the question back to the audience—”Do you want illegal immigrants to get tax-funded benefits?”—the crowd roared “Yes,” clearly rejecting his premise.

One of the more personal confrontations came when a constituent labeled him a “fascist” and asked whether he would support impeachment articles against Donald Trump. Flood strongly rejected the label: “I get that you get an applause line when you call me a fascist, but I’m not. I’m an American.”

Outside the venue, former Nebraska state senator Ken Harr stood holding a sign accusing Flood of “blind loyalty.” Harr, who served alongside Flood in the state legislature, criticized what he sees as a lack of congressional independence. “We have the separation of powers,” Harr said. “But we just don’t see that coming from our congressman.”

Flood, who won Seward County by a wide margin in the last election—securing more votes than Trump himself—acknowledged the intensity of the backlash but said town halls are vital to democracy. “This is the back-and-forth that we expect from our government,” he said. “If people like me don’t come down from Washington and sit to talk with people, nothing will ever get better.”

Despite the criticism, Flood is planning another town hall in Lincoln this August. Whether the political heat cools by then remains to be seen, but for now, it’s clear that Nebraska voters are not holding back when it comes to questioning their representatives—especially on policies that hit close to home.