Arizona Democratic leaders hear community concerns about Trump administration

MESA — Two Arizona Democratic leaders met with Valley community members on Thursday to hear their concerns about the impact of the Trump administration’s actions.

The town hall at the Dobson Community Center in Mesa was Attorney General Kris Mayes’ second on this topic, following a similar event in Phoenix about a month ago. She was joined this time by U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton.

“What is going on right now is reckless, it is chaotic, and it is illegal,” Mayes told an energized room of people about spending cuts by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency.

What concerns did community discuss with Arizona Democratic leaders?

A major focus of the meeting was to allow community members to share how they’ve been impacted by White House policies.

Attendees brought up the following issues, among others:

• Impact of tariffs on Arizonans and local business.
• Federal public education funding.
• Concerns about First Amendment protections on college campuses.
• Mass firings of federal workers.
• Worries about non-enforcement of laws by agency heads loyal to the president.
• Concerns about the president’s use of power.
• Fears about the president stopping elections to stay in power.

The event also aimed to help gather information for active lawsuits.

Earlier Thursday, Mayes announced her participation in a new lawsuit over the president’s recent executive order related to elections.

It was the ninth lawsuit Arizona has joined against the Trump administration, and Mayes indicated another could be on the way this week.

Speaking before the town hall opened to the community, Stanton focused on Trump’s new tariffs.

“These tariffs, the largest tax increase in American history, are illegal. … Read the constitution; tariffs have to be done by Congress,” Stanton said.

Valley residents share stories at town hall

Mesa resident Peres Shirley later expressed concerns about how the tariffs will affect Arizonans.

“It’s impacting our relationships with our closest allies,” she said. “It’s also impacting our business. … What can we do to protect our economy?”

Stanton responded by saying that while the U.S. needs to bring in manufacturing, leaders should focus on trade agreements and not retaliation.

“We should be working more closely than ever with our next-door neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to build the strongest economy possible,” the East Valley congressman said.

Stanton also urged Arizonans to “get loud” on economic policy.

A woman named Donna shared that her daughter is losing her job with the U.S. Agency for International Development and said she worries the nation is falling behind when it comes to diplomacy.

“This is me having courage,” she said before telling her story.

A man named Travis asked Mayes what people can do if the president simply ignores outcomes of lawsuits or existing law.

“There may come a point — and I don’t know that we’re at the point, because we’re winning in court — there may be a point where we need national collective action,” the attorney general said later.

Not everyone at the town hall came to complain about the Trump administration.

One woman raised questions about administration claims that Social Security benefits are being paid to deceased people.

“That is complete misinformation,” Stanton responded, but he noted it’s important to allow for bipartisan conversations.

One man seated toward the middle of the crowd, who didn’t speak, donned a black “Make America Great Again” hat.

Arizona Democratic leaders vow to fight

While Stanton and Mayes shared a worrisome future for the nation under Trump, they don’t think all is lost.

Mayes said the goal of her lawsuits is to protect Arizonans.

She believes enough pushback legally and from communities will make a difference.

“It’s about crowds, it’s about courts and it’s about courage,” she said.

But she also warned that attempts to dismantle federal agencies may intensify in the coming weeks.

“I’ll fight if you fight,” she said.

Meanwhile, Stanton is urging Republicans in Congress to break from the president and push back on decisions he’s made.

“Do the right thing; that’s what needs to happen,” he said.

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