Senator Jim Banks from Indiana remains confident in his words following widespread attention to his statement as he told a terminated federal employee that he deserved the termination during discussions about government budget reductions.
The Washington D.C. incident triggered widespread responses between viewers who supported Banks’ direct comments and those who condemned his heartless attitude.
Video footage shows Mack Schroeder confronting Senator Jim Banks during which Schroeder worked for the Health and Human Services (HHS) before the mass federal worker dismissals started. Schroeder approached Banks on February 14th following his termination to learn if the senator would protect social service programs for disabled people.
Banks replied to the concern by telling the protester “You probably deserved it” then closed the elevator doors with “Because you seem like a clown.”
Schroeder expressed his frustration to USA TODAY about Banks’ childlike behavior after describing the senator’s words as “very childish.”
The senator must outline a plan to provide heating services to his constituents since his department fired the staff members responsible for energy assistance programs.
Schroeder pressed him about the consequences of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) budget cuts across Indiana.
The criticism did not stop Banks from posting his defense on social media channels. Through his X account Banks declared he would not issue an apology while labeling Schroeder as both a “left-wing activist” and a “clown” for opposing his budget decisions which he considers important.
Banks stated “A clown is a clown who follows senators through halls using their cellphone to express disappointment about their dismissal from a left-wing ‘woke’ position.”
Wide media attention has fallen upon the video while adding to numerous previous social media incidents involving the first-term senator who strongly supports Donald Trump.
In March Banks became a viral sensation after releasing a video that ridiculed protesters who had organized a town hall without his presence.
