Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil Defends Immigration and Tariff Policies at Raucous Wisconsin Listening Session

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Janesville) held a contentious in-person listening session at Elkhorn High School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on July 31, 2025, where he defended the immigration and tariff policies of President Donald Trump and the Republican budget reconciliation law. The event drew a crowd of nearly 600, with nearly two-thirds of the audience appearing to be critics of Steil, who represents the 1st District in Congress covering Southeastern Wisconsin. Despite the raucous atmosphere, Steil maintained a cheerful tone, addressing questions from the audience that were largely critical of his policies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Steil defended the immigration and tariff policies of President Trump, stating that the U.S. should "work collectively with our allies to address the real culprit, which is China" regarding the tariffs.
  • The majority of the audience who asked questions were critical of Steil, Trump, the Republican congressional majority, or all three, with concerns ranging from the treatment of immigrants to the impact of tariffs on local economies.
  • Steil received repeated interruption from the crowd, with some audience members shouting over his attempts to respond to questions, prompting the moderator to scold the audience for shouting and ask them to let Steil answer questions.
  • Steil appealed for restraint from the crowd, stating, "The more civil we are with each other, there's people that have different views in here, we heard applause and boos on the border security issue, we've heard it a couple of times."
  • Steil was asked by an audience member about his stance on the Trump administration's decision to send convicted U.S. citizens to foreign prisons, with Steil stating that he "doesn't see the exact parallel" between the treatment of U.S. citizens in World War II internment camps and the current treatment of immigrants.
  • Steil also faced criticism from an audience member who asked him to explain why he supported defunding the Department of Education, with Steil stating that Congress is still "analyzing what the spending will be for the upcoming fiscal year."
  • Steil received praise for his response to a question about climate change, stating that "making sure that we're protecting our air and water and soil is absolutely essential," but his response was largely jeered by the crowd, which he attributed to the issue being "about global aspect" and other countries doing "their fair share" of addressing the problem.

Statistics:

  • The Elkhorn High School auditorium was filled with nearly 600 attendees, with nearly two-thirds of the audience appearing to be critics of Steil.
  • The majority of the audience who asked questions were critical of Steil, Trump, the Republican congressional majority, or all three.
  • Steil was interrupted repeatedly by the crowd, with some audience members shouting over his attempts to respond to questions.
  • Steil's office has been the site of weekly protests by constituents calling on him to hold an in-person meeting rather than telephone ones.

Sources:

  • "Wisconsin Congress Listening Session" by Wisconsin Examiner
  • "Homegrowns are next": Trump's ominous message to the El Salvador president" by ABC News
  • Photos by Mark Hertzberg for Racine County Eye