On Wednesday morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made headlines after freezing inexplicably during a press gaggle in Covington, Kentucky.
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We’ll have the full video on @WLWT pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV
— Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) August 30, 2023
This isn’t the first time the Kentucky Senator has had a health scare in the past month; he experienced an altogether similar incident in late October at the U.S. Capitol.
When asked directly if he would seek reelection in 2026, McConnell almost immediately began to laugh before mumbling something inaudible and staring off into the distance with an unblinking, frozen posture for an extended time.
Despite being asked if he had heard the question, he only responded briefly with “Yes” before going silent again for an additional twenty seconds.
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We’ll have the full video on @WLWT pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV
— Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) August 30, 2023
Following this, McConnell affirmed that he was lightheaded and would ask a doctor for a consult. According to the Associated Press, he also jokingly remarked after returning to the podium that he was “sandbagged,” a term President Joe Biden had used to describe him tripping over a sandbag during June’s U.S. Air Force Academy commencement.
here’s McConnell from just before the incident. seems quite different/sudden https://t.co/raJE18xiAh
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) August 30, 2023
Meanwhile, Politico’s Jonathan Martin had written a much-initiated story about McConnell’s physical decline, noting how the prominent theme during non-attributed conversations on Capitol Hill is how much the Senator has aged.
At this point, it’s unclear what effects McConnell’s health will have on his political career. There’s no denying that McConnell, who’s been in the Senate since 1984, has been an influential figure in US politics. It’s yet to be seen if this incident will affect his plans to seek reelection in 2026 and his other political decisions.