Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appeared to freeze up again during a press conference in Covington, Kentucky, just one month after a similar bizarre incident on Capitol Hill that left critics concerned about his advanced age and its effects on his ability to do his job.
The 81-year-old senator was caught on video on Wednesday staring off into space while struggling to answer a reporter’s simple question about his thoughts on running for reelection in 2026.
“That’s uh —” McConnell began to respond before freezing up and going silent for a few moments.
The video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, by NBC affiliate WLWT showed a woman rushing to the elderly senator’s side and asking whether he had heard the question.
McConnell then appeared to quietly reply “yes,” but continued to stand motionless and silent.
“Alright, I’m sorry y’all, we’re going to need a minute,” the woman then said before summoning another aide to stand beside the senator.
After a few moments, McConnell appeared to indicate that he would be able to continue with the event — giving no explanation for his bizarre actions. The woman then asked if any other reporters had a question to ask the senator.
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
McConnell answered a couple more questions before ending the press conference and being led away by the two aides.
Here's more of what we saw at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Government Forum. Hoping Sen. McConnell is able to take some time to rest @WLWT pic.twitter.com/wU91yTIDZk
— Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) August 30, 2023
A spokesperson for McConnell later attempted to provide an explanation for the incident, claiming in a statement to Punchbowl News that the senator had “felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today.”
“While he feels fine, as a prudential measure, the Leader will be consulting a physician prior to his next event,” an aide added, according to a tweet from Punchbowl News senior congressional reporter Andrew Desiderio.
NEW: McConnell spox says the GOP leader “felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today.”
Aide adds: “While he feels fine, as a prudential measure, the Leader will be consulting a physician prior to his next event.” https://t.co/fbnnH6MsNi— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) August 30, 2023
This bizarre incident came just four weeks after McConnell froze for roughly 20 seconds while speaking to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. He was escorted from the podium during the incident — but returned a short time later and claimed to be “fine.”
Critics on both sides of the aisle have called for McConnell to resign over his health problems, arguing that the freezing incidents are just more evidence that the senator is too old to continue his political career.
“This man has clear cognitive impairments after sustaining serious head trauma from his fall a few months ago,” tweeted popular X account DC Draino after McConnell’s first freezing incident, adding: “It is clear that he should resign.”
BREAKING: Mitch McConnell has cognitive malfunction at podium
Has to be escorted away by fellow Senators
This man has clear cognitive impairments after sustaining serious head trauma from his fall a few months ago
It is clear that he should resign pic.twitter.com/iLNJvCRmx7
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) July 26, 2023
While Americans were made aware of McConnell’s concussion earlier this year after a bad fall, it wasn’t until his first freezing incident in Washington, D.C. that sources revealed McConnell had fallen at least two other times in the months leading up to the incident.
