A top party leader says House Republicans should avoid giving Democrats sound bites.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged fellow Republican lawmakers on Tuesday to avoid public town-hall meetings with voters after some events turned into angry confrontations over President Donald Trump's moves to fire federal workers and defund government programs.

The chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee told G.O.P. lawmakers that public confrontations with angry constituents could hurt them politically in the midterm elections.

House Republican leaders on Tuesday told rank-and-file lawmakers not to hold public meetings to avoid getting yelled at by their constituents. Republicans have been stung by voters at town halls complaining about billionaire Elon Musk’s attacks on federal agencies and Republican proposals to cut Medicaid benefits.