Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) participated in a student town hall event at Belmont University on Monday where his presence was met with what he called a “screaming mob.”
The event, held Monday morning at the Janet Ayers Academic Center, was put on by the Belmont University College Republicans and allowed students the opportunity to engage with the congressman on a variety of issues.
Ogles’ press office said in a release that the town hall covered a “wide range of topics, including America’s role in global conflicts, economic policy, immigration reform, and the responsibilities of government at every level.”
This is what violent Leftist rhetoric has inspired on American college campuses.
Another town hall hijacked by a screaming mob. pic.twitter.com/rogfGTAla7
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) April 27, 2026
The congressman’s office said he “answered students’ questions and emphasized the importance of civic engagement, national security, and economic strength in shaping the next generation of American leadership.”
“Speaking with the students at Belmont University was a fantastic opportunity to have a dialogue about contentious issues in politics,” Ogles said in a statement. “Thank you to the Belmont University College Republicans for having me on campus and for your contributions to the discussion.”
Following the event, Ogles posted a video on social media showing students lining the university’s hallways in protest of the congressman’s presence at the town hall.
“Hate is not welcome on Belmont’s campus. Republicans are, but bigots are not,” one female student yelled in the video posted by Ogles.
Ogles captioned the video, “This is what violent Leftist rhetoric has inspired on American college campuses. Another town hall hijacked by a screaming mob.”
While I was in the room, a gunman tried to kill President Trump, cabinet members, and other elected officials in DC Saturday night.
Despite this, I went to a public venue to have an honest dialogue with students who vehemently disagreed with me. My good-faith effort for civil… https://t.co/wIZ349fUKp
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) April 27, 2026
In a separate post to social media, Ogles said his presence at the student town hall two days after an alleged would-be assassin charged a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner demonstrates that “My side uses dialogue, the other side uses intimidation.”
“While I was in the room, a gunman tried to kill President Trump, cabinet members, and other elected officials in DC Saturday night,” Ogles wrote. “Despite this, I went to a public venue to have an honest dialogue with students who vehemently disagreed with me. My good-faith effort for civil discourse was met with shouts and name-calling.”
Ogles’ remarks came in response to a video of him speaking to reporters during his Belmont visit on Monday where he recalled hearing a reporter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner say, “I hope they kill the orange MF” while she was actively hiding from the alleged shooter outside the ballroom.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Why do you have to say alleged would-be assassin? He is without dispute an “would be assassin”
Not surprising that three out of the four people shooting in the video were females, and that the forth person was a male, all of whom are doing so at a univeristy that calls itself Christian but is obviously struggling to have its students be transformed by Jesus and born again into new life with Him. They all need to grow up with the Lord, and run their mouths far less or not at all until they do, which includes learning that the Muslims are not our friends and should not be catered to in anyway. Either learn the faith that you profess to have people or get out and go to a false one that suits you until the eyes of your heart are opened to return.