R-FLA Rep. Byron Donald defended tech billionaire Elon Musk at City Hall Monday night, where he grilled about the Department of Government Efficiency’s cost-cutting measures and the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate approaches to the Israeli-Hamas war.
Donald, a member of the House Oversight Committee, was forced at one point to what the Republican-led panel was doing to help the administration dramatically reshape the federal government and dramatically reshape spending and ensure oversight for Musk and Doge.
“If you’re trying to talk about what surveillance is doing, then the Doge Division, which is actually a doge committee, needs to actually get the job done,” Donald said at an event in Estero, Florida.
He also defended the Trump administration’s efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, claiming that it was a “false premise” and that the lack of such initiatives in the boardroom and classrooms meant “somehow, minority children cannot move forward.”
“There’s no equal playing field in life, and it doesn’t exist,” said Donald, one of the few Black Republicans in Congress.
After the man in the audience cried out that Donald should read a particular book, Donald said, “Don’t educate me about my life.”
“I love that everyone is screaming at me. There’s a black guy with a microphone in his hands on stage,” Donald said. “Don’t alienate my life and what I did. Don’t do that.”
Dozens of people have left across the city hall, and many are frustrated by the answer from Donald, who is running for governor of Florida in next year’s election.
Towards the end of the event, Donald clashed with members of the audience over his responses to questions about the Israel-Hamas War.
“We should stand 100% behind Israel,” Donald said. “I stand by our side, which is Israel.”
When the audience stood up and protested loudly against his pro-Israel stance, Donald said she was disrespecting “everyone in this room” with her actions.
“I think you’re being asked, and let’s be clear, you’re not,” Donald said. “We’ve set rules. You’re rude and rude. You’re not the only person who has a perspective on this room.”
A woman screamed “Free Palestine!” and as police continued, a small audience could hear.
There were no arrests.
Donald is one of the Republicans who held the City Hall after Rep. Richard Hudson of RN.C., who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, advised GOP lawmakers last month to hold an event against hosting the event amid harsh criticism from angry attendees at the town hall earlier this year.
Last week, R-Ga. Councilman Marjorie Taylor Greene held a city hall where some audience members were arrested and unsettled by police, but others were taken from the event.
