U.S. Senate minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze for 30 seconds earlier this week as he attempted to answer a reporter’s question at an event in Covington, Kentucky.
A reporter asked McConnell if he was planning to run in the 2026 elections, but McConnell asked the reporter to repeat his question several more times.
The 81-year-old senator chuckled a bit, and then paused, and suddenly started straight ahead.
Someone approached him to ask him a question, but he still remained unresponsive.
A day later, the senator was medically cleared to continue his schedule as said by U.S. Capitol Physician Brian Monahan.
According to the physician, Mcconnell experienced lightheadedness although it’s not uncommon and it happens in concussion recovery or a result of dehydration.
This year, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. History.
He also had a similar episode in late July, wherein he also froze for 20-30 seconds during a news conference on Capitol Hill.
His office said that the Kentucky senator was lightheaded and that he was dehydrated, although he insisted that he was fine.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday told reporters that he plans to get in touch with the Kentucky Republican.
“Mitch is a friend, as you know – not a joke, I know people don’t believe that’s the case. We have disagreements politically but he’s a good friend and so I’m going to try and get in touch with him later this afternoon,” according to Pres. Joe Biden, United States of America.
