Republican Told to Take His ‘Head Out of Trump’s A**’ in Town Hall Trainwreck

A routine August town hall in rural Missouri captured national attention when a frustrated constituent bluntly told Republican Rep. Mark Alford to “take your head out of Trump’s a”**. The confrontation – which took place on August 25, 2025 at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar – quickly went viral and dominated US politics headlines. In it, farmer Fred Higginbotham accused the congressman of putting President Donald Trump’s agenda ahead of local needs, calling Trump “a dictator” and demanding that Alford start representing his constituents instead. This article provides full context on the exchange: who said it, why, and how Rep. Alford and others reacted. It also reviews the media coverage and what the incident means for the Republican Party as it heads toward the next election cycle.

Outburst at Bolivar Town Hall

The exchange unfolded at a town hall meeting on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, hosted by Missouri’s 4th District Rep. Mark Alford (R). Alford – a first-term congressman who won his safe seat with about 71% of the vote – was taking questions from roughly 100 local residents on issues from Medicaid to federal spending. Many in the audience identified as Democrats or moderates upset with Trump-aligned policies. The atmosphere was mostly civil, with occasional groans and disagreements, but no major outburst – until one long-time Bolivar farmer stood up to speak.

Fred Higginbotham, a former firefighter and century-farm owner, grew visibly angry. He told Alford he was “pissed” – at both Alford and at Trump. Higginbotham said he had supported Alford by emailing him and now felt ignored. He rebuked Trump as “a dictator” who “knows nothing about what he talks about,” and demanded, “You need to take your head out of Trump’s a and start doing your representation of us.”** The profanity-laced outburst drew whoops and applause from the crowd. (Video of Higginbotham’s remarks was shared widely on social media and by news outlets.) Higginbotham further urged Alford to study the Constitution and help remove Trump from office. His comments underscored deep frustration with the former president’s influence and with cuts to farm programs and social services.

Photo from the town hall shows Republican Rep. Mark Alford at the podium. (AP image)

After the crowd’s reaction, Alford thanked Higginbotham by name for his question and took a deep breath. Throughout the roughly hour-long Q&A, Alford remained calm even as others in the audience shouted. At one point, a woman interrupted to defend Alford’s honesty, saying, “I don’t think you’re lying to me,” when a debate over Medicaid cuts threatened to devolve. Alford, a former Kansas City TV news anchor, often used that same steady, question-and-answer style. He even gently corrected Higginbotham’s outburst: Alford noted he had met Trump “five or six times” and was “not the best of friends with Trump,” indicating he had broken with Trump on some issues (for example, opposing the use of the National Guard in U.S. cities).

Alford’s Measured Response

Despite the verbal lashing, Rep. Alford answered Higginbotham’s questions patiently. He tried to explain his positions and address the raised concerns. Alford acknowledged rural constituents’ worries about farm subsidies and health care. For instance, when challenged on Medicaid cuts, he defended the new “Big Beautiful Bill” (Trump’s flagship tax-and-spending package) by its congressional name “HR1,” arguing its tax cuts would help working families. The crowd reacted with boos and laughter at that claim – economic analyses show the bill’s tax cuts largely favor the wealthy. Alford also fielded a question on Ukraine: one voter asked if he had told Trump that Vladimir Putin is the aggressor in the conflict, since Trump had blamed Ukraine instead. Alford admitted he did not have a “close personal relationship” with Trump to challenge him in person.

Importantly, Alford thanked Higginbotham and addressed him respectfully. The Independent reported that, “despite the hostility, Alford thanked Higginbotham for his question before responding calmly.” Video from the C-SPAN feed shows Alford politely listening and then noting that he tries to keep open lines of communication – saying he often answers his phone and email when possible. In short, Alford de-escalated the confrontation, which may have diffused the mood. This demeanor drew notice in the coverage; AP’s report highlighted that Alford remained composed even as Higginbotham yelled.

Other attendees voiced frustrations, but none matched Higginbotham’s bluntness. One woman expressed fear over rural hospital closures due to Medicaid cuts. Another mentioned Trump’s repeated lies about Ukraine and wanted Alford to set the record straight. These questions indicate the same theme: constituents were concerned that Alford was too deferential to Trump rather than focusing on local interests.

Crowd Reaction and Commentary

Aside from Higginbotham’s comments, the audience’s reaction was mostly in favor of the farmer. When Higginbotham demanded Alford act for the people rather than Trump’s agenda, the crowd responded with loud applause and cheers. Moments later, when Alford defended parts of Trump’s agenda, the room responded with groans, laughter and further interruptions. By contrast, AP’s coverage noted that this town hall was surprisingly civil – it lacked the long “liar!” chants and sustained shouting seen at some other GOP events. One Bolivar nurse agreed Alford seemed sincere but said she couldn’t deny the negative impact of cuts on poor residents.

Nationally, the exchange became a flashpoint. Journalists quickly picked up the story. The Daily Beast headlined it “Republican Rep. Mark Alford Told to Take His ‘Head Out of Trump’s A**’ in Town Hall Trainwreck,” noting that the crowd demanded Alford denounce Trump’s “lies.” Salon described Higginbotham’s demand (and quote) prominently, observing that constituents were “pissed” and viewed Trump as “a dictator.” Twitter clips of the outburst – including one from political blogger Acyn – were shared thousands of times. For example, Salon embedded a tweet of the exchange to highlight how quickly the incident spread on social media.

While local media (such as the Kansas City TV station KSHB) noted the mostly orderly nature of the meeting, major outlets emphasized the confrontation. Reporters pointed out that Alford broke with Trump on some issues (calling himself “not best friends” with Trump and opposing federalized National Guard deployments), yet still faced sharp criticism for not going further. The Independent and AP noted that many of Alford’s colleagues are skipping in-person town halls altogether, fearing such confrontations. The phrase “take your head out of Trump’s a”** itself became emblematic of a growing political controversy among voters and pundits – a succinct (if vulgar) expression of frustration over partisanship and loyalty.

Political Fallout and Broader Implications

In the aftermath, the incident has fueled debates within the Republican Party. Salon reported that GOP leaders have been urging members to avoid live town halls because previous events have devolved into viral confrontations. This latest episode, coming off the heels of others (such as Rep. Mike Flood in Nebraska and Rep. Doug LaMalfa in California also facing shout-downs), adds pressure on Republicans to rethink their outreach strategies. Some conservative commentators criticized the constituent’s profanity and the optics of a voter angrily cursing at a congressman. Others saw it as a sign of deep frustration with Trump-aligned policies even in Republican strongholds, effectively a conservative backlash to Trump’s agenda from within his own party’s base.

The town hall incident also had a ripple effect in the ongoing Donald Trump news cycle. Trump himself has not publicly commented on this particular outburst, but the story fed into larger discussions of how Republican candidates relate to Trump and his policies. Political analysts noted that, with voters becoming more vocal, Republican figures might face tougher questions as they campaign. In fact, Salon tied the event to the broader narrative about the 2024 elections, suggesting that such frank feedback could influence how Republicans prepare for future races. (Even though the 2024 presidential election is over, the term still appears in news as pundits reflect on how Trump’s legacy and base will shape upcoming contests.)

So far, Mark Alford’s office has not released an additional statement beyond what he said at the meeting. The congressman’s calm handling of the situation – thanking the questioner and answering every challenge – was noted by AP as helping to keep the dialogue civil. It remains to be seen whether the farm policies, spending bills and partisan loyalty debates raised at the Bolivar town hall will lead to any policy shifts. What is clear is that this episode underscored an increasingly common scene in US politics: grassroots voters venting frustration over party orthodoxy, even using unfiltered language.

Key details of the episode:

• Who & Where: Rep. Mark Alford (R-Missouri) was holding a town hall in Bolivar, MO (SW Baptist University) on August 25, 2025.

• What Happened: Constituent Fred Higginbotham loudly criticized Alford’s support for Trump, at one point yelling “take your head out of Trump’s ass” and calling Trump a dictator.

• Audience Reaction: The remark drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd. Other voters also voiced upset about Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and healthcare cuts.

• Alford’s Response: The congressman remained composed – he thanked Higginbotham and calmly addressed every question. He emphasized he had met Trump only a few times and said he wants open communication with constituents.

• Media Coverage: National outlets (AP, Daily Beast, Salon, etc.) spotlighted the exchange as a viral moment in US politics. It became a talking point for debates about the Republican Party and Donald Trump’s influence.

• Broader Context: This incident comes as GOP leaders warn of contentious town halls ahead of elections. Some see the outburst as part of a political controversy over party loyalty, while others frame it as a sign of conservative backlash against unchallenged Trumpism.

Conclusion

The Bolivar town hall incident – in which a Missouri voter shouted that his congressman should “take your head out of Trump’s a**” – captured a raw moment of political anger and put a spotlight on tensions within the GOP. It serves as a vivid example of how local constituents can dramatize national political debates. Congressman Alford’s calm handling drew praise, but the episode itself has become a talking point in US politics circles. As the Republican Party navigates the aftermath, it faces questions about how to balance loyalty to Trump with the concerns of everyday voters. With analysts already eyeing the post-2024 election landscape, this town hall outburst may well influence how the party approaches future campaigns and constituent outreach in the 2024 elections era.