Mitch McConnell is the longest-serving party leader in the history of the US Senate. The 81-year-old was lost for words again.
With another interruption at a US press conference, top Republican politician Mitch McConnell has once again stoked concerns about his health. During the press conference in the state of Kentucky on Wednesday, the 81-year-old senator was again at a loss for words. Only after half a minute of silence did he seem to have recovered. A similar incident occurred at a press conference at the Capitol in Washington in late July.
This time a reporter asked McConnell after an event in Kenton County if he would run for re-election in 2026. McConnell, standing behind a lectern, looked straight ahead and did not respond. When a staff member repeated the reporter’s words and asked if he understood the question, he calmly replied, “yes”, but did not start talking, eventually followed by an “ok”. His employee then asked the group if anyone else had any questions.
Shortly afterwards, US media quoted a spokesperson for McConnell as saying that the senator briefly felt dizzy and therefore took a break.
Treated for concussion in March
McConnell is the longest-serving party leader in the history of the US Senate. According to the House of Congress, he has been elected nine times to lead the Republicans since 2006 – as majority or minority leader, depending on the outcome of the respective general elections and the parties’ seats in the Senate. He has long been considered one of the most important geniuses in US politics.
In March, McConnell fell during a private dinner at a Washington hotel. He suffered a concussion and was treated at a hospital.
The advanced age of leading American politicians is always a topic of debate. At 80 years old, Joe Biden is the oldest US president ever and is seeking a second term.
When asked by reporters about the McConnell incident on Wednesday, Biden said he had just heard about it. He doesn’t know enough about the incident, but wants to try to contact McConnell. “Mitch is a friend,” emphasized the Democrat. “We don’t always agree politically, but he’s a good friend.”