Elise Stefanikisn't usually the one in the hot seat. The Republican congresswoman from New York has built herno-holds-barred political brandaroundgrilling college presidentsduring congressional hearings. But it was her turn to face intense public scrutiny on Aug. 18, when she was met with awave of loud boosfrom the crowd during an event to honor a late local politician in the town of Plattsburgh. The jeering, which went viral, was so bad that she gave up on speaking and passed the microphone back to others on stage. Read more:Who is Elise Stefanik? "Shame!" protesters shouted, along with "Unseal theEpstein files!" "It is a disgusting disgrace that this is what the far left does," shelater told a local news outlet. It's the latest instance of a GOP lawmaker encountering unhappy consituents in recent months. Anger over theeconomic impact of tariffs, the president's new tax and spending law andcuts to the federal workforcehas prompted a series ofacrimonious town hallsacross the country. Read more:Trump's big tax bill is a win. It could also be a big problem for GOP The Democratic National Committee siezed on the moment, writing in apost on X: "That's what happens when you sell out your constituents toDonald Trump." The moment comes at a changing political time for Stefanik as sheeyes a runforgovernor of New York state.President Donald Trumppulled her nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations earlier this year. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Elise Stefanik booed off stage at local event
