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Mitch McConnell Says People Worried About Medicaid Cuts Will 'Get Over It' [1]

['Sonam Sheth', 'Newsweek Staff', 'Jonathan Harounoff']

Date: 2025-06-24 17:04:21-04:00

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said during a closed-door meeting with Republicans on Tuesday that people worried about cuts to Medicaid in the Senate's reconciliation bill will "get over it," Punchbowl News reported.

Why It Matters

The Republican Party has drawn sharp criticism over the reconciliation package, which is currently making its way through the Senate after passing the GOP-controlled House of Representatives last month.

The bill has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and aims to deliver on his biggest priorities, including sweeping tax cuts and increased funding for immigration enforcement and border security.

But the proposal, which Trump calls the "big, beautiful bill," has drawn intense scrutiny over its proposed spending cuts, which could adversely affect millions of low-income, elderly and disabled Americans.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that the House's version of the bill would reduce Medicaid spending by $793 billion over 10 years, resulting in 10.3 million fewer people enrolled in Medicaid by 2034, including 1.3 million individuals with Medicare.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (second right) departs a Senate Republican Conference luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on June 18, 2025. Sen. Mitch McConnell (second right) departs a Senate Republican Conference luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on June 18, 2025. Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images

What To Know

Punchbowl first reported McConnell's remarks about Medicaid cuts in a text message sent to subscribers, and it was later published on X, formerly Twitter.

According to Punchbowl, McConnell made the comments while addressing the possibility that the GOP could face major electoral losses due to the bill.

"I know a lot of us are hearing from people back home about Medicaid," McConnell said, per Punchbowl. "But they'll get over it."

According to KFF, approximately 1.4 million people in McConnell's home state of Kentucky are enrolled in Medicaid.

The former Senate majority leader added during Tuesday's closed-door meeting that "failure" to pass the bill "isn't an option," Punchbowl reported.

A spokesperson for McConnell told Newsweek in a statement that the senator's comments were taken out of context: "Senator McConnell was speaking about the people who are abusing Medicaid – the able-bodied Americans who should be working -- and the need to withstand Democrats' scare tactics when it comes to Medicaid."

They added: "Senator McConnell was urging his fellow members to highlight that message to our constituents and remind them that we should all be against waste, fraud, and abuse while working to protect our rural hospitals and have safety nets in place for people that need it."

McConnell's comments come weeks after Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa made headlines when she responded to people protesting Medicaid cuts by saying, "Well, we're all going to die."

What People Are Saying

Rosemary Boeglin, the Democratic National Committee's communications director, said in a statement following Punchbowl's reporting:"I hope Republicans can 'get over it' when they lose their seats in the midterms."

Cherlynn Stevenson, who's running to represent Kentucky's 6th Congressional District in Congress, said in a statement sent to Newsweek: "Unfortunately, it seems like Mitch McConnell is back to his old ways of putting D.C. politics before people back home in Kentucky. People's lives aren't bargaining chips. These Medicaid cuts will mean that rural hospitals close their emergency rooms, and parents will be stuck having to choose between bringing their child to the doctor or putting food on the table. If Republicans barrel ahead with these downright cruel cuts, Mitch shouldn't expect anyone to 'get over' it."

Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres of New York, on X: "'We're all gonna die' wasn't as much of a hit as they'd hoped – so the Big Ugly Bill has a new slogan: 'Get over it.'"

Trump urged Republicans to expedite the passage of the "big, beautiful bill," writing on Truth Social on Tuesday: "To my friends in the Senate, lock yourself in a room if you must, don't go home, and GET THE DEAL DONE THIS WEEK. Work with the House so they can pick it up, and pass it, IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE GOES ON VACATION UNTIL IT'S DONE."

What Happens Next

Congress' recess for July 4 is set to start on Friday, but House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly told Republicans during a closed-door meeting Tuesday morning that they should keep their schedules open this coming weekend and early next week, adding that the Senate may pass its version of the bill "maybe by Friday, Saturday."

"If the Senate does its work on the timeline we expect, we will do our work as well," Johnson said, according to Roll Call. "And I think everybody's ready for that."

Update 6/24/25, 5:42 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and context.

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[1] Url: https://www.newsweek.com/mitch-mcconnell-medicaid-get-over-it-report-2090245

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