US Senate Leader Mitch McConnell 85, Freezes at Press Briefing

Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Senate Republicans, seemed to freeze while talking to reporters for the second time in just over a month. When asked if he would run for re-election in 2026, the 81-year-old stopped for more than 30 seconds at a press event in Covington, Kentucky.

Aides tried to wake up the senator, but it took Mr. McConnell a few more seconds to come to. After that, he answered two more questions, which staff had to repeat.

Before he left with helpers, he didn’t say anything about his health. A spokesperson said after the event, “Leader McConnell felt dizzy for a moment and had to stop during his press conference today.”

Later, a staff member told the US partner of the BBC, CBS News, that the congressman “feels fine” but “will talk to a doctor before his next event.”

The first time Mr. McConnell said something wrong was on July 26 at a press meeting at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. There, he stopped in the middle of a speech for about 20 seconds before his fellow Republican senators pulled him away.

He came back later and told reporters he felt “lightheaded” but was “fine.”

Mr. McConnell, who is in charge of the small minority of Republicans in the Senate, spent a week in the hospital in March after falling outside a hotel in the Washington area and getting a concussion and a broken hip.

He was sent to a rehab centre and didn’t come back to the Senate until the middle of April.

After the freezing event in July, US media said that Mr. McConnell had fallen at least three other times since February.

This new event will raise more questions about the Kentucky senator’s health as Congress tries to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of October. The fall legislative session will be busy.

A staff member for Senator John Thune, who is Mr. McConnell’s deputy in the Senate, told reporters that the two of them had talked about what happened. Ryan Wrasse said that Mr. McConnell “sounded like himself and was in a good mood.”

“Politically, we don’t agree, but he’s a good friend, so I’ll try to talk to him later this afternoon,” said Vice President Joe Biden later on Wednesday.

Concerns about Mr. McConnell’s health come after questions about the health of Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California who is 90 years old and hasn’t been in the chamber for months because of a serious case of shingles. The average age of a US Senate member is 65 years old.

Mitch McConnell

Mitch McConnell, whose full name is Addison Mitchell McConnell Jr., is an American politician who has been a prominent figure in the United States Senate for several decades. As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, here’s an overview of his career and background:

Born on February 20, 1942, in Sheffield, Alabama, McConnell is a member of the Republican Party. He graduated from the University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences and then earned his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

McConnell’s political career began in the 1960s when he worked for various political figures, including Senator Marlow Cook and President Gerald Ford. He served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General under President Ford.

In 1984, he was elected to the United States Senate from Kentucky. Over the years, McConnell gained a reputation as a skilled strategist and negotiator. He served in various leadership positions within the Republican Party, including as the Senate Majority Whip from 2003 to 2007 and as the Senate Minority Leader from 2007 to 2015.

One of McConnell’s most notable roles came in 2015 when he became the Senate Majority Leader after the Republicans gained control of the Senate. In this position, he played a key role in shaping the legislative agenda and was known for his ability to control the flow of legislation and appointments.

McConnell’s tenure as Senate Majority Leader included significant events such as the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices, including Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. He was also a key figure in the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

McConnell has been both praised and criticized for his strategic approach to politics. His use of Senate rules and tactics has been a subject of controversy, with critics arguing that he has been obstructionist on certain issues.