Sen. Joni Ernst doubles down on 'We all are going to die' quip with sarcastic response
Iowa's junior senator shared her response on her Instagram story Saturday.
Iowa's junior senator shared her response on her Instagram story Saturday.
Iowa's junior senator shared her response on her Instagram story Saturday.
Sen. Joni Ernst has posted a video using one of her social media accounts, further addressing her response to a town hall meeting in Iowa on Friday that was met with shouts and groans.
The forum was held at a high school in Parkersburg, Iowa. During the forum, she addressed potential changes to Medicaid eligibility if the Senate passes the president's "Big, beautiful bill." People in the crowd brought up concerns they had about cuts to Medicaid.
While Ernst was speaking, someone in the crowd yelled that people will die without coverage.
"People are not ... well, we all are going to die," Ernst said, drawing groans. "So, for heaven's sakes. For heaven's sakes, folks."
"What you don't want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable," Ernst continued. "Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect."
In a video she shared on her Instagram story Saturday, Ernst addressed the moment.
"Hello, everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall," she said in the selfie-looking video while outside. "See, I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member when a woman who was extremely distraught screamed out from the back corner of the auditorium: 'People are going to die'. And 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 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."
WATCH: Sen. Joni Ernst doubles down on 'We all are going to die' quip with sarcastic response
vlog did reach out to the senator's team and is waiting to hear back.
Ernst is up for reelection in 2026. She has not formally launched a campaign.
Democratic candidate Nathan Sage announced he's running for her seat. He shared the following statement with vlog:
“To try to clean up the mess she made on Friday by telling Iowans that she doesn’t care if we live or die, Senator Ernst went on Instagram to mock us all.
83,000 Iowans are at risk of losing their health insurance coverage if this budget bill passes and her response is this sad, vile attempt at a joke.
She really just doesn’t (care) about us. Joni is going to lose her Senate seat next year, and the tooth fairy won’t be there to save her.”
WATCH: Sen. Joni Ernst defends Medicaid cuts at Iowa town hall, saying 'We all are going to die'
WATCH: Joni Ernst defends controversial response to Medicaid concern