Congressman Robert Garcia Holds Invite-Only Town Hall at LBCC

LONG BEACH, CA – Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) hosted an invite-only town hall at Long Beach City College (LBCC) to discuss what he called “attacks on our democracy” from President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The event, which was broadcast live on C-SPAN, sparked controversy as some Long Beach residents criticized Garcia’s leadership and his exclusion of certain constituents from attending.

Garcia, who served as the 28th mayor of Long Beach, California, from 2014 to 2022, condemned Trump’s policies, particularly efforts to eliminate the Department of Education and cut Social Security and Medicare. “The elimination of the Department of Education is, in my opinion, of all the horrific things that Donald Trump is attempting to do, this is the worst,” Garcia said. He also accused Trump of attacking immigrants and dismantling worker protections, vowing to fight back by pushing for pro-union legislation if Democrats regain control of Congress and the presidency.

Garcia also took aim at Musk, accusing the billionaire of attempting to “take over our democracy” and weaken the social safety net for personal gain. He claimed that after publicly criticizing Musk, he received a threatening letter from Washington D.C.’s Acting U.S. Attorney, a Trump ally, in what he described as an effort to silence him.

Despite Garcia’s strong stance against Trump and Musk, some Long Beach residents voiced frustration over his own leadership. Many questioned his tenure as mayor, alleging he mismanaged taxpayer money and failed to address critical city issues such as homelessness, rising crime, and infrastructure decay. “Garcia is out here talking about Trump and Musk, but what about all the money he wasted when he was mayor?” said Long Beach resident Daniel Reyes. “Our roads are still a mess, homelessness got worse under him, and he spent taxpayer money on pet projects instead of real solutions.”

Adding to the frustration, some residents were upset that the town hall was invite-only, preventing them from attending and expressing their concerns directly. “He’s supposed to represent all of us, but instead, he’s only letting in people who support him,” one excluded resident said.

However, Garcia also received strong support from Democratic attendees who praised his leadership and resistance against Trump and Musk. “Congressman Garcia is one of the few people in Washington actually standing up to these billionaires and extremists trying to destroy our democracy,” said attendee Maria Gonzalez. “We need more leaders like him who aren’t afraid to speak the truth.”

The town hall highlighted the political divide in Long Beach, where Garcia has both staunch supporters and vocal critics. While some attendees applauded his stance against Trump and Musk, others left feeling that his rhetoric was a distraction from his own controversial record. As Garcia continues to position himself as a national voice against Trump and billionaire influence, the question remains whether his constituents will back his efforts—or hold him accountable for his time as mayor.

Watch the full town hall on C-Span here.