McConnell.
McConnell Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel appeared to freeze for about 30 seconds on Wednesday while speaking with reporters after a speech in Covington, Kentucky.
The incident is similar to an episode McConnel experienced at the US Capitol late last month and is likely to raise additional questions about the fitness of the 81-year-old to lead the Senate Republican caucus.
Wednesday’s episode occurred when a reporter asked the Republican leader if he was planning to run for reelection in 2026. McConnel had to ask him to repeat the question several times, chuckled for a moment, and then paused, closing his mouth and staring straight ahead.
Someone at his side then asked him, “Did you hear the question, senator, running for reelection in 2026?” Mc did not respond.
“I’m sorry you all, we’re gonna need a minute,” the aide told reporters. A member of the senator’s detail spoke quietly to him for a moment, and McConnell was able to whisper an answer to him.
McConnel turned back to reporters, said, “OK,” and his aide asked if anyone had another question, and if reporters could “speak up.”
A spokesman for Mc told CNN that the Kentucky Republican “felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today.” A McConnel aide added: “While he feels fine, as a prudential measure, the leader will be consulting a physician prior to his next event.”
He later attended a fundraiser for Rep. Jim Banks, who is running for a Senate seat in Indiana – a sign of how he carried on with his schedule as questions persisted Wednesday about his health.
McConnel, the leader of the Senate Republican caucus since 2007, has faced questions about his health throughout the year. He was treated for a Mc concussion and fractured rib after falling at a hotel in Washington in March, returning to the Senate several weeks later.
In late July, McConnel froze for 30 seconds during a news conference on Capitol Hill. At the time, his office said the Kentucky Republican was “lightheaded” and Republicans later said that he was dehydrated. Speaking to reporters after the incident, Mc insisted he was “fine.”
McConne.. and his top deputy, Senate Republican Whip John Thune, spoke Wednesday afternoon after the incident.
“The leader sounded like his usual self and was in good spirits,” Thune spokesman Ryan Wrasse said.
A source at Banks’ fundraiser told CNN that Mc was in a “great mood” and didn’t address the freezing episode. The two discussed issues pertaining to Kentucky and Indiana, the source said.
Banks in a social media post said that they had a “wide-ranging” discussion and included a picture of the two men talking.
Another source said Mc was “very dialed in” about Banks’ Senate race and was engaging in his discussion.
President Joe Biden also told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he plans to try to “get in touch” with Mc.
“Mitch is a friend, as you know – not a joke, I know people don’t believe that’s the case. We have disagreements politically but he’s a good friend and so I’m going to try and get in touch with him later this afternoon. McConnell I don’t know enough to know,” Mc Biden told reporters following remarks on the federal response to Hurricane Idalia and the wildfires in Maui.
At Wednesday’s press conference in Northern Kentucky, Mc trailed off and paused after he was asked whether he would run for reelection. A staffer then joined Mc at the podium and repeated the question for him.
While the U.S. Constitution allows legislatures to empower governors to appoint replacements, a select few states have placed additional restrictions Mc In Kentucky, the state legislature passed a law in 2021 requiring the McConnell governor to choose from a list of three potential appointees selected by the party of the departing senator. That change happened in 2021, shortly after Mc won reelection.
