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Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s top Republican, faced an unexpected moment on Wednesday when he struggled to answer a reporter’s question. This incident was reminiscent of a previous occurrence last month.
During a press conference in his home state of Kentucky, McConnell appeared to freeze for over 30 seconds when asked whether he would run for re-election in 2026. A video of the exchange shows an aide asking if he heard the question, to which McConnell did not respond. The aide then informed reporters that they would need a moment.
McConnell eventually resumed the press conference, but his aide had to repeat reporters’ questions for him to answer. Later, a spokesperson stated that McConnell had felt momentarily lightheaded and would see a doctor before his next event.
This incident marked the second time in as many months that the 81-year-old senator froze during an interaction with reporters, raising concerns about the age and health of senior politicians in Washington.
Last month, McConnell abruptly stopped speaking during a press conference at the US Capitol. He later made a joke about the incident, referring to President Joe Biden’s stumble over a sandbag after a speech in June.
Biden himself has faced questions about his age and ability to serve another term. As the oldest president in US history, he would be 86 at the end of a potential second four-year term.
There are indications that voter concerns about his age could impact his re-election bid. An AP poll found that 77% of Americans, including 69% of Democrats, considered Biden too old to effectively serve another four-year term.
When asked about McConnell’s future in the Senate, Biden refrained from giving a direct answer but referred to him as a good friend. He mentioned that he would try to contact him later in the day.
There have been similar discussions recently regarding the health and mental capacity of Dianne Feinstein, the 90-year-old Democratic senator from California, who took a prolonged absence from the Senate due to shingles. McConnell himself experienced a lengthy absence earlier this year after suffering a fall and a concussion.
Following last month’s incident, a McConnell spokesperson confirmed his commitment to serving his full term in the Senate, expressing gratitude for the support of his colleagues.
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