Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell faced a hostile crowd during a speech at the Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky on Saturday.
The 81-year-old Republican was met with jeers and chants of "retire" from the crowd, just days after he froze up mid-sentence at another event.
Despite the angry reception, McConnell remained unfazed and continued with his speech without acknowledging the hostile crowd. He briefly addressed the concerns about his health, saying, "This is my 28th Fancy Farm, and I want to assure you it's not my last."
Video footage of the speech shows McConnell barely audible as the crowd shouts "retire" and boos him. The Associated Press reported that the chants and jeers came from Democrats in the crowd.
Former President Donald Trump also made comments about McConnell over the weekend, calling him "perhaps the worst leader in the history of our country running the Senate." Trump also mentioned McConnell's recent health concerns, describing his freeze-up during a press conference as "sad."
During a press conference on Wednesday, McConnell lost the ability to speak and remained silent for about 30 seconds before being led away by colleagues. An aide later explained that McConnell was feeling lightheaded and needed a moment to recover. This incident raised questions about McConnell's ability to serve after a fall in March left him with a concussion and broken rib.
It was also revealed that McConnell had slipped and fallen in Finland while visiting with a delegation of senators in February. Senator Ted Budd recalled the incident, saying, "But it was also very icy at the time, so it could have happened to any of us."
When asked about McConnell's health, Budd admitted that there is concern when anyone takes a fall, especially considering his own age. McConnell's representative confirmed that he has been using a wheelchair as a precautionary measure to navigate crowded areas.
Despite the recent controversies and concerns about his health, McConnell has remained focused on his political career. He did not address Trump's comments or the crowd's hostility during his speech at the Fancy Farm picnic. McConnell's determination to continue serving as Senate Minority Leader reflects his commitment to his role and his party.
Login