It was the second time in recent weeks that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reportedly appeared to halt while answering questions from reporters at the podium in Kentucky on Wednesday.
A reporter quizzed McConnell, 81, about seeking reelection in 2026 during a gathering in Covington, Kentucky.
The Senate GOP leader asked the reporter to repeat the question again before saying, “That’s a,” and then froze for almost 30 seconds while gazing ahead.
BREAKING: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appears to FREEZE again while taking questions. pic.twitter.com/MVZNsuq838
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 30, 2023
McConnell reportedly spoke with both the Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) and the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.). The two reported that McConnell sounded fine when they spoke to him.
Wednesday’s incident occurred just over a month after McConnell froze up while taking questions from reporters during his weekly news conference in the Capitol.
He remained silent during that episode, staring straight ahead for almost 20 seconds, until being led from the news conference.
Following a fall on March 9 during a private dinner at the Waldorf Astoria, McConnell was admitted to the hospital earlier this year.
He reportedly fractured a little rib and sustained a concussion due to the fall.
Days later, the GOP leader received his hospital discharge and checked into an inpatient recovery center. On March 25, he left for home, and on April 17, he returned to work at the Capitol.
McConnell’s performance on Wednesday will likely raise even more questions about whether he is medically fit to discharge the duties of his office.
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