TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman Leroy J. Jones, Jr. on Mar 5th, released the following statement on Mar 5th, on President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress last night and renewed his call for New Jersey U.S. Representatives Tom Kean, Jr., Chris Smith, and Jeff Van Drew to hold public Town Hall meetings to help allay the concerns of New Jersey residents:

“President Trump’s barely disguised campaign speech to Congress last night is unlike anything I’ve seen in my lifetime.  Unfortunately, it is par for the course for the last two months.

In the midst of American chaos and confusion, Trump bragged about unelected and unconfirmed junior dictator Elon Musk’s indiscriminate firings of federal workers and seemingly remains at his most proud when separating families and deporting law-abiding parents and small business owners.

He threatened allies and justified crippling tariffs while continuing to ignore the devastating effects on our financial markets and every American family’s day to day ability to survive this Trump economy.  And, of course, he continues to paint the war in Ukraine with a ruby red Russian paint brush while endangering countless lives and imperiling both our foreign relations and the safety and security of our European allies.

As Congresswoman LaMonica McIver says ‘Trump’s joint address was just another opportunity for him to get on TV and lie to the American people while Republicans cheered him on. So I walked out. He spun lies about the economy, immigrants, LGBTQ kids, the cost of eggs, his and Elon’s massive layoffs—you name it. Nothing new, nothing interesting, and nothing helpful for my constituents in the 10th District.”

It is past time for Tom Kean, Jr., Chris Smith, and Jeff Van Drew to hold in-person forums to address their constituents’ very real concerns.  These three members of Congress have chosen to stand by while our economy tanks and our safety and security both home and abroad are imperiled, but tax cuts for the most wealthy continue to be the priority. And they won’t explain why.

Trump has somehow made acceptable partisan issues out of tearing apart families, allowing the richest man in the world to fire Americans on a whim, terrorizing our allies, and even making an egg something only your boss can afford.

Kean, Smith, and Van Drew were elected to represent Republicans, Democrats and Independents and if they truly believe the policies they are supporting are in their constituents best interests then they should be willing to explain why.  Not in a tele-Town Hall where questions are monitored and curated, not in a one-on-one interview and not in the coddling studios of Fox News, OANN or the latest MAGA satellite network to pop up and normalize the inexplicable.

They are elected Representatives. It is time for them to represent.”