Republicans Struggle to Defend Trump-Era Economic Overhauls Amid Medicaid and Social Security Backlash

Sen. Joni Ernst speaks during a town hall at Aplington-Parkersburg High School on May 30, in Parkersburg, Iowa

As former President Donald Trump pushes forward with sweeping changes to the American economy, prominent Republicans are increasingly finding themselves in difficult political terrain, facing public backlash and struggling to defend unpopular policies — particularly those affecting healthcare and entitlements.

Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa became the latest GOP figure to face criticism over proposed Medicaid cuts in the House Republicans’ budget plan. During a town hall event on Friday, Ernst was confronted by a concerned attendee who warned that “people will die” if the plan goes through. Rather than challenge the premise or frame the cuts as targeting fraud or inefficiency — a common Republican strategy — Ernst replied bluntly, “Well, we all are going to die.” The remark, which drew audible disapproval from the audience, was followed by her exasperated, “For heaven’s sakes, folks.”

Her office later defended her stance, insisting the senator is working to “ease the burden” of taxes and ensure Medicaid benefits are protected from waste and abuse. A spokesperson reiterated, “There’s only two certainties in life: death and taxes,” asserting that Ernst’s policies aim to reduce both while preserving essential services for the most vulnerable.

Ernst further claimed that Medicaid resources are being misused, pointing to a commonly circulated — but inaccurate — claim that 1.4 million undocumented immigrants receive Medicaid. In reality, that figure is not supported by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which instead projects that proposed GOP changes, such as implementing work requirements, could leave 7.6 million Americans uninsured by 2034.

Republicans have long faced the challenge of paying for Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which significantly reduced federal revenue. To address the growing deficit, GOP lawmakers have targeted major entitlement programs like Medicaid and Social Security — a move fraught with political risks. Even Trump allies such as Steve Bannon have warned the party that cutting benefits for low-income Americans could be a losing strategy.

The controversy surrounding Ernst’s remarks is part of a larger pattern. Trump himself, while addressing concerns about inflation and tariffs, minimized the financial impact on American families. “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls,” he said during a campaign event. “And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.” Trump has previously claimed that foreign countries would bear the brunt of the tariffs, not U.S. consumers — a claim widely disputed by economists.

Elsewhere in the administration, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick came under fire in March for comments regarding disruptions to the Social Security system. In defense of delayed checks, Lutnick remarked that his 94-year-old mother-in-law wouldn’t complain if she missed a payment, calling those who protest “fraudsters.” His comments were widely criticized, especially considering that more than 10% of American seniors rely on Social Security for 90% or more of their income, according to the Social Security Administration.

These repeated missteps, while not necessarily fatal to the GOP’s broader economic agenda, are adding fuel to Democratic attacks portraying the Trump-era reforms as careless and disconnected from the realities of working-class and low-income Americans. With more entitlement overhauls on the table, Republicans may continue to face difficult questions about the human cost of their policy choices — and few good answers.