Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst encountered fierce opposition from constituents during a contentious town hall meeting in Butler County on Friday, where she was questioned about her support for President Trump’s controversial One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Initially, the atmosphere was cordial, with a supportive speaker inviting Ernst to be a guest at the American Legion for Memorial Day next year.
However, the mood quickly shifted as audience members aggressively questioned Ernst about the sweeping legislation, which includes extensive cuts to safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
Ernst defended her stance, stating that those who would be removed from these programs were ineligible to access them in the first place.
In her remarks, she specifically mentioned that the bill would lead to 1.4 million “illegals” being removed from Medicaid benefits.
This assertion triggered an uproar in the crowd, and one attendee shouted, “People are going to die.”
Responding in a seemingly flippant manner, Ernst stated, “Well, we all are going to die,” which further agitated the audience, eliciting loud boos and shouts of disapproval.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has been described as a sweeping GOP budget package proposing significant tax cuts for the wealthy while reducing funding for vital social programs.
Just earlier this month, a version of the bill had barely passed in the House with a narrow vote of 215-214, signaling a contentious debate among lawmakers.
As it stands, the bill includes provisions that would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, accumulating approximately $3.8 trillion in cuts primarily benefiting top earners.
Additionally, it seeks to raise the national debt ceiling by $4 trillion and impose costly fees on asylum seekers and sponsors of unaccompanied minors.
If passed, the legislation is projected to increase the national debt by trillions over the next decade.
Currently, the bill is undergoing the reconciliation process in the Senate, a procedural path that allows Republicans to sidestep a Democratic filibuster and pass it with a simple majority vote.
At the town hall, Ernst continued to clash with attendees, exemplified by a heated exchange with a Navy veteran and retired school superintendent.
He pressed Ernst on her political alignment with Trump, questioning whether she was afraid of him, corrupt like him, or simply indifferent to pressing issues.
His poignant query was met with cheers from the audience, while Ernst’s response, reinforcing her belief that the country is not being destroyed, was met with more dissent.
After the tumultuous event, Ernst took to social media, appearing unshaken by the discontent displayed by her constituents during the town hall meeting, signaling her resolve to support the contentious legislation.
image source from：https://www.npr.org/2025/05/31/nx-s1-5418932/we-all-are-going-to-die-ernst-joni-town-hall-iowa-senator
