McConnell was escorted away from cameras after freezing during a press conference

 McConnell was escorted away from cameras after freezing during a press conference

During a weekly Republican leadership news conference in Washington, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a sudden interruption. While delivering his opening remarks about an annual defense policy bill, McConnell, who represents Kentucky, stopped speaking altogether, remaining silent for 19 seconds. Concerned about his well-being, his Republican colleagues inquired if he was alright. In response, a top McConnell deputy, Senator John Barrasso from Wyoming, and a physician escorted the 81-year-old McConnell away from the cameras and reporters.

At the same time, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa made a hand gesture that initially seemed to resemble the sign of the cross. However, her office later clarified that she was signaling for Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota.

A few minutes later, McConnell returned to the news conference on his own. When asked about his health, he reassured everyone that he was fine and fully capable of carrying out his duties. When questioned about the incident, an aide referred to McConnell's statement of being "fine," but added that he had felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment.

Despite the brief interruption, McConnell resumed the conference, and according to the aide, his performance during the Q&A session was sharp and composed.

Later that evening, McConnell briefly spoke to reporters as he left the Capitol, mentioning that the president had called to check on him. In a light-hearted manner, he joked, "I told him I got sandbagged."

Both a White House official and a spokesperson for Senator McConnell confirmed that President Joe Biden had spoken to McConnell by phone on that Wednesday.

However, when asked by reporters how he was feeling, McConnell simply replied, "I'm fine," without directly addressing the earlier incident or whether he had sought medical attention.

This incident comes after McConnell's previous fall on March 8 during an event for the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC aligned with him and GOP leadership, at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington. The fall resulted in a concussion and a minor rib fracture, leading to hospitalization and subsequent discharge on March 13 before he entered rehab. He didn't return to the Senate until mid-April.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from California confirmed that he had a regularly scheduled meeting with McConnell after the Senate GOP leadership news conference to catch up on both houses. McCarthy expressed that there were no concerns about McConnell's health during their meeting.

Mitch McConnell has been serving in the Senate since 1985 and is not up for re-election until the 2026 midterm elections.