Republican Sen. Joni Ernst faced a number of agitated constituents at a town hall on Friday who expressed concerns that the Republicans' cuts to Medicaid under their major legislative effort to advance President Donald Trump's agenda would cause people to die.

Her response: "Well, we all are going to die"

Audience members at the Butler County, Iowa, event raised concerns that proposed cuts to Medicaid under the Trump's "big, beautiful bill" being mulled in the Senate could threaten the lives of individuals who lose access to health care or food benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As Ernst explained her position on removing those who should not qualify for Medicaid under the current law from eligibility, an audience member could be heard shouting back at her, "People are going to die"

Ernst quipped back, "Well, we all are going to die," she said.

Ernst pushed back as the audience reacted, explaining her position.

"Well, what you don't want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those who are most vulnerable. Those who meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid we will protect. We will protect them," Ernst continued. "Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa. If you don't want to listen, that is fine, but what I am doing is going through and telling you that those that are not eligible, those that are working and have the opportunity for benefits elsewhere, then they should receive those benefits elsewhere and leave those dollars for those that are eligible for Medicaid"