Sen. Jim Banks Tells Fired HHS Worker He 'Probably Deserved It' for 'Being a Clown'

In a moment that’s been raising eyebrows and firing up social media debates, Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., bluntly told a former Health and Human Services (HHS) employee that he "probably deserved" to be fired. Why? According to Banks, the man came across "like a clown." Yes, you read that right—clown.

The exchange, which was caught on video and has been making the rounds online, shows Banks responding to the fired employee’s grievances with an unapologetic candor that some are calling refreshingly honest and others are labeling as outright callous. The lawmaker even doubled down by adopting a screenshot from the video as his new profile picture on X (formerly Twitter) and captioning the clip with a blunt, "Hard truth!"

The individual, later identified as Mack Schroeder, confronted Banks, saying he was illegally dismissed from HHS on February 14 and that individuals with disabilities have been struggling to access social services ever since. Schroeder asked the senator if he planned to address the issue. Banks, without missing a beat, responded, "You probably deserved it." When pressed for a reason, Banks delivered the now-infamous line: "Because you seem like a clown."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Banks didn’t backpedal. Instead, he defended his stance, saying, "Factory workers, mechanics, police officers, teachers, and all hardworking people in Indiana don’t deserve to see their tax dollars going to pay for woke and wasteful programs in Washington DC. Thank you, President Trump, for draining the swamp." Love him or hate him, Banks is clearly not afraid to lean into his unapologetic persona.

But Schroeder wasn’t about to let the comment slide. Speaking to USA Today, he described Banks’ remarks as "very childish" and called out the senator’s lack of empathy for constituents who rely on federal programs. "I hope a lot of people in his state see the callousness that he demonstrated," Schroeder said.

This incident comes as HHS moves forward with significant downsizing, reportedly cutting 10,000 jobs and saving $1.8 billion annually—a move touted as a "win-win for taxpayers." Banks, who joined the Senate earlier this year after serving in the House of Representatives, appears to be fully embracing his role as a bold, no-holds-barred politician. Whether that approach wins him more fans—or detractors—remains to be seen.