Newly-crowned Miss USA Kara McCullough faced widespread backlash from liberal social media users after she called health care a “privilege” and not a right while answering questions onstage during Sunday night’s pageant.

McCullough, a scientist who works for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and who competed as Miss District of Columbia, was asked if she believes health care should be a right or a privilege for American citizens.

“I’m definitely going to say it’s a privilege,” the 25-year-old pageant winner said, adding that taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to subsidize someone else’s health care.

“As a government employee, I’m granted healthcare. And I see firsthand that for one, to have healthcare, you need to have jobs, so therefore we need to continue to cultivate this environment so that we’re given the opportunities to have healthcare as well as jobs for all Americans worldwide,” McCullough said.

"I'm definitely going to say it's a privilege." Listen to your new #MissUSA talk about healthcare in the USA. pic.twitter.com/CzPBeaTYHO — Miss USA & Miss Teen USA (@MissUSA) May 15, 2017

The answer sent social media users into a frenzy, as many user chided McCullough for her answer.

#MissUSA Miss DC just lost me with that answer….Affordable healthcare is a privilege? Girl bye. pic.twitter.com/Q5mU7PIlx1 — Kat ✨☀️ (@dazella_may) May 15, 2017

Miss DC was my fav but… not after that answer. Everyone has a right to healthcare. #MissUSA pic.twitter.com/lM9V90B4Lh — Charlsley (@CharlsleyCarey) May 15, 2017

DC just disqualified herself with that answer #MissUSA — Yashia (@Yashia__) May 15, 2017

Some Twitter users, however, defended McCullough.

https://twitter.com/cross_bearer89/status/863966350942797825

https://twitter.com/Cubsin2020/status/863930400858681345

Way to go Miss DC You are correct! Healthcare is not a privilege – xoxo a nurse! #MissUSA — 🎄TrumpsAmericaPhD🎄 (@irshroz) May 15, 2017

During the competition, McCullough was also asked if she considered herself a feminist, to which she said she prefers to “transpose” the word feminism to “equalism.”

“I don’t want to call myself a feminist. Women, we are just as equal as men, especially in the workplace,” McCullough said.

“I believe we’ve come a long way and there is more work to be done. I think domestically we are making progress and I do believe that we will become equal one day,” she added.

McCullough beat out first runner-up Miss New Jersey Chhavi Verg, a student at Rutgers University. McCullough will compete next in the Miss Universe contest.

“I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity,” she said after the event. ““I just want to encourage so many women nationwide to find their passion in any subject possible and understand that nothing is difficult if you really, truly put the work in for it.”