Senate Majority Leader John Thune is under fire after defending the sweeping $880 billion in Medicaid cuts proposed in the One Big Beautiful Bill, arguing that “the best healthcare is a job."
Democrats, healthcare advocates, and constituents warn the cuts—designed to help offset $4.5 trillion in tax breaks—could strip coverage from millions of vulnerable Americans. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that President Donald Trump's proposed One Big Beautiful Bill would result in approximately 10.9 million people losing health insurance by 2034.
This figure includes about 7.8 million individuals who would be removed from Medicaid and 3.1 million who would lose coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces.
But that doesn't seem to matter to Thune, who in response to criticism said that people should rely on employer-sponsored healthcare, which keeps millions people bound to their jobs:
"A rising tide lifts all boats. And, uh, you know, the best for the people looking for healthcare, the best healthcare is a job. And a lot of times, healthcare comes with a job, and so creating those better-paying jobs that come with benefits is ultimately the goal here."
You can hear what he said in the video below.
Thune was swiftly called out for his cold response, with many pointing out the problems with his statements, such as the fact that many jobs keep people below full-time hours so as not to offer them healthcare coverage.
Thune's remarks came several days after Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst responded to constituents' concerns about Medicaid cuts by telling them that "we all are going to die." She did not respond to those who pointed out that the proposed cuts would potentially force millions of low-income Americans off coverage and reduce access to essential care.
Ernst did not issue an apology; she instead shared an Instagram video that appeared to be filmed in a graveyard that made light of the backlash.
Ernst said she "made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth" but dismissed people's concerns anyway, saying "those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.”
@LauraLoomer/X
