Sen. Mitch McConnell Says Voters Will ‘Get Over’ Massive Cuts To Medicaid In GOP Budget

by Sherry ChenJune 30, 2025, 1:18 amHomepage Slider, News >

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) is facing criticism for comments made in a meeting with members of the Senate Republican caucus on President Donald Trump and the GOP’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

The bill includes extensive budget cuts to Medicaid, with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicting that the cuts will total up to $793 billion over the next decade, resulting in the unenrollment of 10.3 million people from Medicaid. The Democrats have attempted to block the bill, but they lack the necessary votes to do so.

McConnell gave a speech during the meeting, including the sentiment that “failure is not an option” before continuing with, “I know a lot of us are hearing from people back home about Medicaid. But they’ll get over it.”

McConnell’s remarks weren’t recorded at the meeting, so his words could’ve been taken out of context. However, McConnell and his staff have not denied the reports. A spokesperson for McConnell said that he “was speaking about the people who are abusing Medicaid – the able-bodied Americans who should be working.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Democrats were quick to comment on McConnell’s remarks. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) posted on X: “That’s the closing message from Senate Republicans before they vote to take away health care from millions of Americans – all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Unbelievable.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said: “These Medicaid cuts will kick 16 million Americans off their health care, close rural hospitals – forcing people to drive hours just to see their doctor – and gut funding for long-term care for our seniors. No, Sen. McConnell, our people will not ‘get over it.'”

In May, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) attempted to defend the GOP’s bill after a controversial response to a member in her town hall in Iowa. When a constituent told her that many people would die due to the budget cuts, Ernst replied with: “Well, we all are going to die.”