Protests and town halls: Local Democratic legislators react to joint address

(Update: Adding video, comments from legislators)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- President Donald Trump addressed congressional leaders at a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, talking immigration, tariffs and government efficiency. Oregon legislators like District Five representative Janelle Bynum said following the address she is disappointed and called to "reject Trump's destruction."

We spoke to her ahead of the speech, and she told us: "It is going to be very difficult to endure some of the, what I expect to be, some untruths or some mischaracterizations of the truth tonight."

Bynum was joined by recently laid-off Bend Central Oregon Forest Service worker Liz Crandall. Crandall is one of hundreds of federal workers in the state to be laid off as part of DOGE's cuts. Bynum told KTVZ news she hoped Crandall would send a message to President Trump.

"What's really important is for lawmakers to put a face on the trauma that has been imposed on our civil servants, people who have served honorably, like Liz and all of her colleagues."

Crandall said she was proud to be in D.C.: "I'm here, I'm fighting. I'm really honored to be accompanying Representative Bynum as her guest and having that representation is so important for us who have been fired because we're real people."

At Tuesday's address, President Trump praised head of DOGE Elon Musk for the continued federal cuts, saying they will further combat inflation and the waste of taxpayer money. Also pointing to the 25% tariffs that went into effect the same day, he said: "Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. And it's happening. And it will happen rather quickly."

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden held a town hall during the president's address, instead of attending. He was not the only Oregon lawmaker to protest Tuesday night. Congresswomen Maxine Dexter and Andrea Salinas both walked out during the speech.

Wyden said, "Donald Trump has lied again and again and again about the nature of tariffs. He has said that the foreigners are paying them. That's not true. "

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley held a town hall meeting following the address condemning DOGE's cuts, "We're carrying this fight through an enormous amount of conversation, dialog with the administration saying you're making a massive mistake. So stop and reverse. "

We reached out to Republican leaders but did not immediately hear back.