GOP Congressman Deletes Post Celebrating ’18 Million Kids’ Losing School Meals: ‘Was an Error’

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) claimed on Thursday that a post celebrating that “18 million kids just lost school meals” and 17 million people “lost health care” was made in error.

After the Trump-backed “Big Beautiful Bill” passed both the House and Senate, one social media user protested, “17 million people just lost health care. 18 million kids just lost school meals. 3 million Americans just lost food assistance.”

Van Orden responded to the post, “YES!”

After he received backlash, the post was quickly deleted, with the congressman claiming he had meant to reply to a different post.

“That was supposed to be a response to a different text. And, all of that is BS,” claimed Van Orden, who described his post as “an error.”

Van Orden’s post received criticism from Democrats, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), who wrote, “You need to understand these people know exactly how badly they are hurting people and they love it. It’s sick.”

“17 million people lost health care. 18 million kids lost school meals. 3 million lost food assistance. And Derrick Van Orden says ‘YES!’ This isn’t leadership. It’s cruelty,” reacted Democratic National Committee secretary Jason Rae. “It’s time for him to go.”

After a journalist suggested that President Donald Trump was the deciding factor in Van Orden’s decision to vote in favor of the controversial “Big Beautiful Bill,” the congressman protested, “No, no, no, I’m not going to allow you to get away with that. The president of the United States didn’t give us an assignment. We’re not a bunch of little bitches around here. I’m a member of Congress that represent almost 800,000 Wisconsinites. Is that clear?”