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House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) attempted to keep Sen. Joni Ernst’s “we’re all going to die” gaffe alive for at least one more day on Tuesday.
The Iowa Republican came under fire last week during a town hall when she addressed a constituent’s concern that proposed Medicaid cuts would lead to deaths by callously responding, “We all are going to die.”
Ernst’s snarky response to a voter’s concerns made for terrible optics, leading to much mockery and inspiring at least one person to run against her.
Some GOP pollsters predicted the gaffe would have consequences, and especially Ernst’s bizarre follow-up video filmed in a graveyard where she told voters the tooth fairy isn’t real.
On Tuesday, Jeffries took his own shot at Ernst.
“Yes, Joni, we know — the American people know — that at some point in their lives, they are going to pass away,” the House’s leading Democrat said during a press briefing.
However, unlike Ernst, Jeffries offered specifics as to what might cause those deaths.
“The cause of death should not be Republican cruelty,” he said.
Jeffries then referenced Republicans’ so-called Big Beautiful Bill. “The cause of death should not be this disgusting abomination of a bill. The cause of death should not be the reckless Republican effort to rip away health care from millions of people, and rip food out of the mouths of starving children or veterans in the United States of America,” he said.
Jeffries: Yes Joni, the American people know that at some point in their lives, they are going to pass away. The cause of death should not be Republican cruelty pic.twitter.com/zcHdqoCfgW
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 3, 2025Many people joined Jeffries in mocking Ernst.
BREAKING: Hakeem Jeffries slams Joni Ernst for belittling the American public.
“Yes Joni, the American people know” everyone will die. Doesn’t mean they have to die sooner.
Spread this everywhere. pic.twitter.com/dysVgi7YQ3
Cause of death: GOP — Grim Old Policies.
— Kumar Kesineni (@kesinenikumar) June 3, 2025Refer to her as Death Panel Joni
— AZNLP79 (@Taxman9791) June 3, 202520 Years Of Free Journalism
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