Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell appeared to briefly freeze up and was unable to reply a query from a reporter at an occasion in Kentucky on Wednesday, weeks after he had an analogous episode in Washington.
As seen on video from an area information station, the 81-year-old McConnell was requested whether or not he would run for reelection in 2026. The senator requested the reporter to repeat the query earlier than trailing off and staring straight forward for about 10 seconds.
An aide standing on the entrance of the room with McConnell then requested him whether or not he heard the query and repeated it to him. When McConnell didn’t reply, the aide introduced to the room that “we’re going to wish a minute,” and McConnell continued to stare forward. In all, he was silent for round 30 seconds.
The newest incident in Covington, Kentucky, on Wednesday solely provides to the questions in current months about McConnell’s well being and whether or not the Republican, who was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has served as GOP chief since 2007, will stay in Congress and in his management publish.
His response was just like an incidence in July, when he froze for about 20 seconds at a information convention within the Capitol. That point, he went again to his workplace with aides after which returned to reply extra questions.
McConnell finally answered two further questions on the Kentucky occasion – although not the one a few 2026 marketing campaign – and appeared to have some issue talking. The aide then ended the information convention and McConnell slowly left the room.
His workplace stated afterwards that McConnell was feeling “momentarily lightheaded” and would see a doctor earlier than his subsequent occasion. Equally, after the July episode, aides stated McConnell was lightheaded and McConnell instructed reporters a number of hours later that he was “high quality.” McConnell’s workplace has to this point declined to offer any additional particulars about what occurred or why.
The newest freeze-up got here after McConnell had already given a 20-minute speech. He appeared extra comfy throughout that a part of this system, discussing the upcoming Senate session and joking at one level that his job is like “a groundskeeper at a cemetery. Everyone is below you however no person is listening.”
In March, McConnell suffered a concussion and a damaged rib after falling and hitting his head after a dinner occasion at a resort. He didn’t return to the Senate for nearly six weeks. Since he returned, he has appeared to stroll extra slowly and his speech has typically sounded extra halting.
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has lengthy acknowledged some issue as an grownup in climbing stairs. Along with his fall in March, he additionally tripped and fell 4 years in the past at his house in Kentucky, inflicting a shoulder fracture that required surgical procedure.
After the occasion was over on Wednesday, McConnell made calls to a number of of his high deputies in GOP management, together with South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican who’s seen as one among his potential successors. McConnell “appeared like his ordinary self and was in good spirits,” Thune spokesman Ryan Wrasse stated.
On Wednesday night, McConnell attended an occasion in Louisville with Rep. Jim Banks, who’s working for Senate in Indiana. Banks posted a photograph of the 2 males on X, the platform previously often called Twitter, and stated he loved a wide-ranging dialogue with McConnell “about the way forward for our nation.”
Requested about McConnell on Wednesday afternoon, President Joe Biden stated he had simply heard what had occurred. “Mitch is a pal, as you understand,” Biden stated. “Not a joke. … He’s a very good pal. I’m going to attempt to get in contact with him this afternoon. ”