(Ken Silva, Headline USA) A Wednesday press conference with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was interrupted after he stopped his remarks mid-sentence and stared off into space for several seconds—the second such public medical episode in the span of about a month for the 81-year-old senator.
McConnell’s apparent medical episode occurred at a Covington, Kentucky presser, after a reporter asked him if he plans to run for reelection in 2026.
“What are my thoughts about what?” he asked once, prompting the report to reiterate his question. McConnell then stared off into space for about 30 seconds. He did field two more questions before exiting stage right.
McConnell’s troubling episode followed a July 26 press conference in Washington DC, where he appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.
McConnell was also hospitalized in March, after he tripped at a DC hotel.
His seemingly declining health has constituents calling for his resignation.
At the 143rd Annual St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic in Kentucky earlier this month, McConnell was met with boos and jeers from the locals, who yelled at him to “retire!”
However, McConnell insisted at the event: “This is my 28th Fancy Farm, and I want to assure you it’s not my last,” as his early retirement might be securing another senate seat for the Democrats.
With only three months left for Kentucky voters to make their voting decision, McConnell gave his two cents to the crowd. He said, “Biden and [Kentucky Gov. Andy] Beshear aren’t working for Kentucky. Andy might as well be on the White House payroll, and it’s high time he was honest about it.”
Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.
