‘We All Are Going To Die’: Joni Ernst’s Chilling Defense Of Medicaid Cuts Sparks Outrage At Iowa Town Hall

At a recent town hall in Butler County, Iowa, Republican Senator Joni Ernst delivered a now-viral remark that quickly ignited backlash across social media and political circles alike. 

Confronted by constituents over proposed Medicaid cuts in the GOP’s sweeping domestic policy bill, Ernst responded with a phrase that’s rare—if not entirely unheard of—in public discourse about health care: “Well, we all are going to die.”

Her comments came after a woman in the audience expressed deep concern about provisions in the Republican-backed reconciliation bill, which includes significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits while providing massive tax breaks to the wealthy. The woman questioned the compassion and fiscal responsibility of the bill, noting that her previous emails to Ernst’s office had gone unanswered. As the audience applauded her criticisms, another member shouted that “people are going to die” under the proposed legislation, prompting Ernst’s blunt response.

The senator’s words were met with gasps, boos, and a sharp rebuke from the crowd. Rather than de-escalate, Ernst doubled down, saying, “For heaven’s sakes, folks,” before insisting the GOP’s focus is on protecting “the most vulnerable.” However, those assurances ring hollow to critics who point to the stark findings from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which estimates that the legislation could leave up to 7.6 million people uninsured. Other analysts have placed that number closer to 10 million.

While Ernst defended the bill’s Medicaid changes as targeting only those who are ineligible, such as undocumented immigrants, the CBO and health policy experts have been clear: work requirements, narrowed eligibility criteria, and administrative hurdles disproportionately impact low-income individuals, including those who technically do qualify for Medicaid. In other words, cutting access under the guise of efficiency still amounts to cutting the program.

Ernst’s “we all are going to die” moment is now being used by Democrats as a symbol of what they’re calling the Republican Party’s callous disregard for human life in pursuit of tax relief for the wealthiest Americans. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) labeled the comment “stunningly callous,” and Minnesota Senator Tina Smith added her voice to the chorus, posting: “I thought my job as Senator was to try to keep my constituents alive.”

This political storm lands just as Senate Republicans attempt to distance themselves from the House version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” as it’s been dubbed by Donald Trump. Even conservative stalwarts like Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin have expressed skepticism, comparing the legislation to the Titanic and vowing to “make sure it sinks” in the Senate.

Adding fuel to the fire is the perception that Republican lawmakers have become increasingly out of touch with their constituents. In recent months, many GOP representatives have been met with fierce opposition at town halls, prompting their party’s campaign arm to recommend avoiding in-person events altogether. Meanwhile, some Republican leaders—including House Speaker Mike Johnson—have floated baseless claims that the town hall protests are staged by “paid protesters,” further alienating an already frustrated electorate.

To make matters worse, Ernst’s team offered no apology or clarification after the event. Instead, her spokesperson echoed the senator’s sentiment, stating, “There’s only two certainties in life: death and taxes, and she’s working to ease the burden of both.” The office insisted that the senator is fighting to ensure Iowans’ benefits are protected from “waste, fraud, and abuse”—language often used to justify deep cuts to social safety nets.

For Ernst, who is up for re-election next year, the moment is likely to become a recurring headline on the campaign trail. While her defenders may attempt to spin her comment as a philosophical aside, the broader context cannot be ignored: she made the statement while defending a bill that would strip healthcare from millions, disproportionately harming the elderly, disabled, and working poor.

This is not just a political gaffe; it’s a glimpse into the broader priorities of a party whose economic agenda appears to favor the privileged few at the expense of the most vulnerable. And if the town hall’s hostile reception was any indication, voters are not only listening—they’re remembering.

As one attendee summed it up after the event, “We came for answers, and all we got was a death sentence.”

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