Democrat says anti-Israel activists' threats kept him from holding town halls
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., told "Breaking Points" that he has not been able to hold a town hall in more than a year due to threats and harassment from anti-Israel activists. (Credit: Breaking Points via Youtube - July 21)
A senior House Democrat divulged this week that he has not been able to hold a town hall for over a year due to threats from anti-Israel activists.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the lead Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, made the explosive claim in an interview with Breaking Points on Tuesday.
"This is my biggest problem with the left," Smith said. "I have been unable to hold a town hall meeting for a year because a bunch of leftists show up and scream at me and don't let anyone else speak.
"You talk about illiberal," he continued. "Having people stand out in front of my house, screaming death threats at me and threatening my wife."
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, speaks during a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The hearing is set to examine the Defense Department's 2027 budget request. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Smith, a member of the Democratic Party’s establishment wing, has previously condemned far-left activists who vandalized his home in 2023 over his support for Israel, including spray-painting "baby killer" in red on his garage doors.
"And the left [says], ‘Oh, well of course we don’t support [that]. We're peace activists. We would never do something like that.’ Okay. How about you just say, ‘No, they did it. It's wrong. We're against it. We are going to be liberal.’"
He also recounted attending a hearing at the University of Washington during which pro-Israel speakers were shouted down by far-left activists during a debate on divesting from the Jewish state.
"So the first three people got up and testified in favor of divesting. [The] fourth person got up and testified against divesting," Smith said in the "Breaking Points" interview. "Two sentences in, [they were] shouted down, screamed at, wouldn't stop."
"I think that whole thing has created a major problem as well," he added. "And we have to be able to have an intellectual discussion."
Pro-Palestinian supporters gather outside the U.S. Capitol to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024. (Anadolu via Getty Images)
Smith also said the left has dubbed him a "Trump supporter" for pushing respectful debate.
He held up socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example of civility on the left.
"I don't agree with everything that he's doing, but he's having legitimate, thoughtful conversations instead of screaming matches over who can threaten the loudest," Smith reflected.
The Washington Democrat is not the only member of the House Democratic Caucus who has faced harassment from anti-Israel activists.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a primary-night watch party for congressional candidate Claire Valdez at 99 Scott Studio on June 23, 2026 in Brooklyn. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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A New York City coffee chain told Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., in June that he was not welcome at their storefronts over his support for Israel.
Days later, Goldman, who is Jewish, lost reelection to Brad Lander, a Mamdani-backed challenger, who put criticism of the Jewish state at the center of his campaign.
Fox News Digital reached out to Smith for comment.
