In an unexpected turn of events, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appeared to momentarily freeze during a press briefing in Covington, Kentucky, on Wednesday.
This incident comes just over a month after a similar occurrence at the U.S. Capitol.
During the press gaggle, when queried about his plans for reelection in 2026, McConnell responded with a brief chuckle, followed by an inaudible mumble. He then fell into an extended silence, staring blankly into the distance, as captured in a video by WLWT.
When probed if he had heard the question, McConnell seemed to affirm with a "Yes," only to lapse into another prolonged silence. He eventually broke the silence with an "Okay," before shifting his attention to another reporter.
In a subsequent video shared by WLWT producer Shannon Thomas, McConnell was seen responding timidly to a question about Kentucky Republican gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron. However, he declined to comment on Trump and gradually retreated from the podium.
A spokesperson for McConnell later issued a statement to Breitbart News, explaining, "Leader McConnell felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today." An aide added that McConnell plans to consult a physician but assured that he feels fine.
Just moments prior to the incident, McConnell's demeanor appeared markedly different, as noted by Punch Bowl News co-founder Jake Sherman.
This incident echoes a similar event last month when McConnell inexplicably froze for approximately 20 seconds during a press conference at the Capitol. After briefly being assisted to his office, he returned to the podium, assuring everyone he was "fine," as reported by the Associated Press.
McConnell later quipped, "The president called to check on me. I told him I got sandbagged." This was a reference to an incident involving President Biden tripping over a sandbag during the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement in June.
This incident also follows a report by Politico's Jonathan Martin, who expressed his concern over McConnell's apparent decline, stating, "as somebody whos covered McConnell for years, its jarring to see his decline." He further noted that a recurring theme in non-attributable conversations on Capitol Hill over the summer was "how much McConnell has aged."
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