On the evening of August 27, 2025, a town hall in Daphne, Alabama, became the epicenter of political tension as Republican U.S. Representative and Senate candidate Barry Moore faced a crowd of constituents who were anything but shy about voicing their discontent. What began as a routine opportunity for Moore to connect with voters quickly spiraled into a raucous display of public frustration, with attendees challenging the congressman’s positions on everything from fiscal policy to social issues.
According to video footage posted online and reports from multiple outlets, Moore’s troubles started almost immediately after he brought up President Donald Trump’s latest tax and spending proposal—dubbed the “big, beautiful bill.” The bill, which Moore championed, has been widely criticized for its sweeping rollbacks of the social safety net. The Congressional Budget Office projects it will benefit the wealthy while placing additional burdens on the nation’s poorest citizens. Moore’s attempt to paint the legislation in a positive light was met with a chorus of boos. As one attendee bluntly asked, “Have you?” after Moore suggested the crowd might have read the bill, the tension in the room became palpable.
Moore’s assertion that inflation was at its lowest in decades drew outright laughter from the audience. The disbelief only grew when he claimed that Trump’s plan would not result in any Americans losing Medicaid coverage. “That is not true!” and “You’re lying!” rang out from the crowd, according to video shared by American Bridge 21st Century on social media. The congressman’s attempts to regain control of the narrative repeatedly faltered as fact-checks and pointed questions flew from every corner of the room.
One of the most contentious moments came during the question-and-answer session, when Moore was pressed on the economic fallout of Trump’s tariffs. Instead of giving a direct answer, he pivoted to inflation, prompting a unified chant: “Who pays the tariffs? Who pays the tariffs?” Moore insisted, “Anyway, you’re not paying anything on the tariffs; the shipping companies are.” This claim was met with a resounding “YES!” from the audience when he asked if they’d seen inflation in goods, highlighting the disconnect between Moore’s statements and the lived experiences of his constituents.
The crowd’s skepticism was not limited to economic policy. On social issues, Moore attributed Republican gains in the 2024 elections to voters’ opposition to “men in our daughters’ locker rooms.” This remark was met with immediate outcry, including one attendee shouting, “There’s a pedophile in the White House!” The congressman’s unwavering stance on abortion—declaring, “I am 100 percent pro-life,” when asked about no-exception abortion bans—elicited another wave of boos, underscoring the deep divisions on reproductive rights in Alabama and beyond.
Immigration policy proved equally combustible. When asked why some immigrants are being deported without due process, Moore responded, “Due process for a citizen and noncitizen are different.” This answer did little to quell concerns, instead sparking chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” as the congressman and his staff hastily exited through the back door—an exit captured in a video that quickly circulated online.
Moore’s staff attempted to restore order at several points during the evening. Early in the event, a staffer opened with a prayer, asking for guidance and for the ability to “speak truth boldly.” Later, as Moore struggled to answer questions over the din, the same staffer pleaded, “It’s very hard to speak while you guys are speaking.” But the crowd was undeterred, insisting on answers to their questions and holding the congressman accountable for his positions.
Despite the town hall not being publicly advertised, the event was well-attended—a testament to the heightened political engagement in Alabama’s First Congressional District. According to reporting from multiple outlets, the crowd remained civil at first, but Moore’s statements on Trump’s bill, the national debt, and Medicaid—he incorrectly pegged the U.S. debt at $37 trillion and falsely portrayed the bill as expanding Medicaid, when in fact it would cut $930 billion from the program—quickly eroded any sense of decorum.
Healthcare was another flashpoint. Moore claimed that denying immigrants access to healthcare would make the system more solvent, a statement met with incredulity from the audience. As several attendees pointed out, this approach actually increases costs, as people turn to expensive emergency care instead of preventive services. The crowd’s frustration was evident, with shouts of “You’re lying!” echoing throughout the room.
The night’s heated exchanges touched on nearly every major policy area, including elections, social security, and Moore’s support for Alabama’s new, highly restrictive abortion laws. His assertion that only U.S. citizens are entitled to due process drew sharp criticism, with one attendee reminding him of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. As the event ended, chants of “SHAME” filled the air, marking an unmistakable rebuke from constituents who felt their concerns were not being addressed.
The fallout from the town hall did not end when Moore left the building. The following day, he appeared on a conservative talk radio program, “The Dale Jackson Show,” to defend himself. Moore claimed the event had been “hijacked” by left-wing agitators and organized activists, suggesting—without evidence—that some were “just trying to get a check from Soros.” This attempt to reframe the evening’s events did little to quell the controversy, and critics quickly pointed out that the crowd’s questions reflected widespread, bipartisan concerns about the direction of national policy.
Moore’s experience in Daphne is emblematic of the broader challenges facing Republican lawmakers as they navigate a polarized electorate and defend increasingly controversial policies. The fierce pushback he received—on everything from economic justice to civil liberties—underscores just how high the stakes are in the upcoming Senate race. For many in attendance, the town hall was not just a chance to question their representative, but a rare opportunity to demand accountability in an era of deep political division.
As Alabama’s Senate race heats up and national debates over tax policy, healthcare, and immigration continue to rage, one thing is clear: voters are paying attention, and they’re not afraid to make their voices heard—even if it means chasing a candidate out the back door.
