Republican senator Joni Ernst faced a series of agitated voters in a City Council that expressed concern that the clippings of Republicans to Medicaid under his main legislative effort to advance in the agenda of President Donald Trump would make people die.
His answer: “Well, we are all going to die.”
The members of the audience at the Butler County event, Iowa, raised concerns that proposed clippings to Medicaid under the “great and beautiful bill” of Trump “that reflects in the Senate could threaten the lives of people who lose access to medical care of food benefits, such as the supplementary nutritional assistance program (SNAP). As Ernst explained his position to eliminate those who should not qualify for Medicaid under the current law of eligibility, a member of the audience could be heard shouting him: “People are going to die.”
Ernst joked, “well, let’s all die,” he said.
Ernst backed away when the audience reacted, explaining its position.
Senator Joni Ernst speaks during the Hill & Valley Forum 2025 at Capitol Visitor Centerr, on April 30, 2025.
Katopodis/getty images
“Well, what you don’t want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those who are more vulnerable. Those who meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid that we will protect. We will protect them,” Ernst continued. “Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa. If you do not want to listen, it is fine, but what I am doing is to pass and tell you that those that are not eligible, those who are working and have the opportunity for benefits elsewhere, then they should receive those benefits in other places and leave those dollars for those who are eligible for Medicaid.”
The benefits of Medicaid have become a key focus of negotiations in a package of massive expenses that Republicans, under the direction of Trump, are working to move in Congress.
The Republicans of the House of Representatives approved the “Big Big Beautiful Bill Law” last week. The version of the bill of the bill implements reforms and changes from Medicaid to other programs while extending Trump Tax cuts 2017 and spending in areas such as border security and defense spending.
The Senate has promised modifications to the bill, a fact that Ernst repeatedly indicated during his town hall. Even so, in his native state, concerns about Medicaid ruled the discussion. Concerns about the bill have led to the noisy municipalities recently, with crowds booing Republican representatives Mike Flood and Ashley Hinson in the City Council events earlier this week.
On Friday, Ernst went to a constituent who identified himself as a health worker about his concerns that the bill would affect medical care in Iowa.
“We know that the house has its dispositions for Medicaid, and I actually agree with most of its dispositions. Everyone says that Medicaid is being cut, people will see their cut benefits, that is not true,” Ernst said, causing boos of the crowd.
While continuing to explain that he believes that the bill will strengthen Medicaid by eliminating those who have options for other forms of medical care outside the program, you can listen to the audience members to shout “impose the 1 percentage; they do not pay it.”
Senator Joni Ernst speaks during an audience with the Senate Committee on National Security and Government Affairs in Capitol Hill, on May 20, 2025.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Ernst’s statement that the bill would not reduce Medicaid was complied with the decline of a constituent.
One of those constituents said that, although many people in Medicaid have work, they do not win a decent salary. The audience cheered while talking.
“That is why they are in Medicaid and that is why they deserve Medicaid and the fact that he wants to take that money and enruption of people who earn billions of dollars who have more money than anyone in this room together,” said the constituent named Jen.
Ernst said children will continue to obtain the coverage they need.
“Well, I would say, Jen, we are not going to reduce those benefits for those children,” Ernst said as the audience complained audibly. “What we are doing is making sure that those that are not eligible for Medicaid do not receive benefits.”
Ernst, who is a member of the Doge Caucus Senate, also defended the work that the Government Efficiency Department has done and continues to do.
“What we are seeing in the federal government is the correct size of federal governments and allow states to assume the role that our ancestors intended,” he said.
In response to this, a audience member shouted “chaos” to Ernst.
“It can be chaos for you, but we have to return to an appearance of what our country was founded,” Ernst said. “We have a debt of $ 36 billion. Both parties have contributed to this. But when does it end. When does it end?”
