Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has been known to wear many hats. Not only is he a tenacious bulldog when questioning evasive witnesses like Dr. Anthony Fauci, he's a renowned master of the filibuster and a survivor of the congressional baseball shooting, as well as a vicious attack by a neighbor that left him severely injured. And he has a pretty great sense of humor, too. 

He's also a medical doctor, a skillset that came in particularly handy Thursday during a Senate lunch. Fellow Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) apparently choked on a piece of food. Paul came to the rescue, performing the Heimlich maneuver on Ernst to help dislodge the food. 

POLITICO congressional bureau chief Burgess Everett remarked on the incident on X/Twitter following the scare. 

Whoa: Rand Paul used the Heimlich maneuver on Joni Ernst at Senate lunch today, she was choking on some food, per attendees. She’s OK, senators say

— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) November 30, 2023

"Whoa: Rand Paul used the Heimlich maneuver on Joni Ernst at Senate lunch today, she was choking on some food, per attendees. She’s OK, senators say"

Thankfully, it sounds like Ernst is okay. She cracked a joke about the incident as well. 

Can’t help but choke on the woke policies Dems are forcing down our throats. Thanks, Dr. @RandPaul! https://t.co/OJDdqpQXjR

— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) November 30, 2023

Quipped Ernst: "Can’t help but choke on the woke policies Dems are forcing down our throats. Thanks, Dr. @RandPaul!"

A bit more about the luncheon: 

Ernst hosted the Thursday luncheon, which is provided weekly by a member and frequently features their home state’s delicacies. Her fellow Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) posted about the meal shortly beforehand, which was headlined by pork chops from the Hawkeye State. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has battled frequently with Paul over the years on foreign policy issues, quipped to The Washington Post afterwards, “God bless Rand Paul.”

“I never thought I’d say that,” he added.

Nice save, Dr. Paul!