On Saturday, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) intensified the controversy surrounding her previous remarks regarding the implications of Medicaid cuts in a new Instagram video filmed in a cemetery. This incident follows her response to a question raised during a town hall meeting on Friday, where she was confronted about President Donald Trump’s tax bill, which is set to significantly reduce funding for Medicaid. The proposed legislation is projected to force approximately 10 million people off Medicaid, the essential government health insurance program designed for low-income and disabled Americans.
During the town hall, an audience member passionately exclaimed, “People are going to die,” in reference to the potential consequences of the tax bill. Ernst's response, “Well, we all are going to die,” has drawn widespread criticism and headlines across the nation, including a prominent feature on the front page of The Des Moines Register on Saturday.
In a subsequent Instagram story posted on Saturday, Ernst attempted to address the backlash. Standing against a backdrop of gravestones, she stated, “Hello, everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall.” She described how her comments arose from a misunderstanding during the heated moment when a distressed audience member voiced her fears about health insurance. Ernst continued, “I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth.”
Concluding her remarks, Ernst added, “So I apologize, and I’m really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the Tooth Fairy as well. But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” This attempt at humor did little to quell the outrage.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin responded sharply to Ernst's comments, stating, “Thoughts and prayers have a new meaning for the Republican Party with Joni Ernst doubling down on her cruel words. It is immoral and un-Christian to do nothing to prevent people from dying, but unfortunately, Trump, Ernst, and the Republican Party are hellbent on putting their own constituents at risk.”
During the town hall, Ernst attempted to justify the Medicaid cuts as necessary to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing the program. This argument, a common point among Republicans, is factually incorrect; undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Medicaid. The cuts would directly affect American citizens, with none of the 10 million projected to lose Medicaid being undocumented immigrants.
The Trump tax bill proposes imposing strict work requirements on “able-bodied” adults, mandating that they work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month to retain their health insurance. This presents challenges for many Medicaid recipients who are unable to work but have not yet been approved for disability benefits—a process that can be lengthy and complicated. As a result, these beneficiaries risk losing their vital insurance coverage.
The stringent income caps within the Medicaid program already require beneficiaries to earn a minimal income, effectively forcing individuals into low-wage jobs just to maintain their health insurance. The additional bureaucracy introduced by these proposed changes will likely lead to many eligible individuals losing their coverage, further exacerbating the healthcare crisis.
Despite the backlash, Ernst assured attendees at her town hall that Republicans are “going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,” emphasizing the critical role that Medicaid plays in the state of Iowa. However, her recent comments and the proposed legislation raise serious concerns about the future of healthcare for millions of Americans.
