Overview

• Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy held a town hall at the University of Utah, defying GOP leadership's advice to avoid public forums.
• The event featured over 500 crowdsourced questions, with many focusing on President Trump's executive orders and deep federal budget cuts.
• Maloy expressed concerns about the growing power of the executive branch, stating it risks drifting toward authoritarianism, but clarified these concerns applied to both Trump and Biden presidencies.
• Both representatives opposed some Trump administration budget cuts, including those affecting the National Park Service, but emphasized the need for fiscal restraint.
• The contentious atmosphere highlighted divisions within the Republican Party, with some attendees criticizing the lawmakers for not fully aligning with Trump's agenda.