During his appearance at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky over the weekend, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was reportedly heckled and jeered by the audience, who screamed “retire” and nearly drowned out his words.
At the event, which also included Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) and his opponent, Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R), McConnell, 81, made his 28th attendance.
Members of the crowd attempted to interrupt McConnell’s remarks as soon as the senior senator took his spot behind the microphone, reflecting the acrimonious climate surrounding the contentious governor contest.
The footage of McConnell rushing through his prepared statements as the audience shouted for him to resign was widely shared on social media and even inspired a barb from former President Trump, who hasn’t talked to the Senate GOP leader since December 2020.
Chants of “shame on you,” “ditch Mitch,” “retire,” and “lost the Senate,” echoed while McConnell was speaking.
Mitch McConnell is booed, and drowned out by chants of “retire, retire, retire”, for five minutes straight as he tries to talk to his own constituents in Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/zyZIHLJaoy
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) August 7, 2023
At the conclusion of his speech, McConnell waved to the crowd while holding his wife close and gave a tight-lipped smile, appearing undisturbed by the cries and boos.
Loud applause and political haymakers are par for the course at Fancy Farm, according to a Senate Republican staffer.
After McConnell experienced a bout of lightheadedness during a news conference on Capitol Hill last month, his future as the Senate Republican leader has drawn increasing attention and rumors.
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