”‘We’re All Going to Die’ Sen. Ernst’s Medicaid Remark Unbelievable”

Senator Ernst Says the Quiet Part Out Loud: If You Die from Medicaid Cuts, ‘Oh Well’.

In a display that many found appalling, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) responded to a constituent’s concern about potential deaths resulting from proposed Medicaid cuts by flippantly stating,

This remark came during a town hall meeting in Parkersburg, Iowa, where attendees expressed alarm over the implications of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—a sweeping Republican initiative aiming to slash over $1 trillion from social safety net programs, including Medicaid and SNAP, while extending tax breaks for the wealthy.

Rather than issuing a sincere apology, Ernst doubled down on her dismissive attitude by posting a sarcastic video on Instagram. Filmed in a cemetery, she mockingly stated,

“I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth. So I apologize. And I’m really, really glad that I … .” She concluded with a proselytizing message: “For those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to … “ .

The proposed legislation, currently under Senate consideration, includes provisions that could lead to 7. … Medicaid coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Critics argue that the bill’s work requirements and spending cuts would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, potentially leading to increased mortality rates .  

Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connect … condemned Ernst’s remarks, stating, “Everybody in that audience knows that … .” He emphasized that losing health care coverage increases the risk of early death and that the bill could lead to the closure of rural hospitals and drug treatment clinics . 

Ernst’s callous response and subsequent mock apology have drawn widespread criticism, highlighting concerns about the Republican Party’s priorities and the potential human cost of their proposed policies.