Updated May 31, 2025 at 8:51 PM EDT

Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst faced intense questioning from her constituents during a Friday town hall, eliciting shouts and boos from community members over her support for President Trump's contentious One Big Beautiful Bill Act . One dismissive comment drew particularly intense ire: In response to constituents' concerns over Medicaid cuts, Ernst said, "We all are going to die."

The next day, the senator doubled down on her comments in a sarcastic apology video posted to social media. In the video, she appears to be speaking from the grounds of a cemetery.

Her original remarks came during a town hall in Butler County, Iowa. The first speaker offered Ernst a softball question, telling the National Guard veteran that his sole request was for her

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