U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst posted a sarcastic apology video following a viral moment when she told a town hall audience member that “we all are going to die” in response to concerns over Medicaid cuts.
The Iowa Republican’s original comments came at a town hall in Parkersburg on Friday, May 30, while she was answering a question about cuts to Medicaid in President Donald Trump’s tax package that the Senate is poised to consider. During Ernst’s answer, someone in the audience interrupted her to shout, “people will die!”
Ernst replied by saying, “People are not — well, we all are going to die. For heaven’s sakes, folks.”
The comment instantly drew national attention and received widespread condemnation from Democrats who have criticized the impact of the potential Medicaid cuts.
Ernst posted a video to her Instagram story Saturday where she spoke directly to camera, apparently from a cemetery.
“Hello everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall,” she began, before describing the incident.