Videos of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell seemingly freezing onstage earlier this year led to widespread speculation that the Kentucky Republican was suffering from ill health, prompting calls for him to resign.
The 81-year-old has continued to serve in office, although little information about the cause of the unexpected interruptions has been shared publicly.
In a video posted Tuesday, it was claimed that McConnell had again frozen during a public appearance.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The Claim
A post on X, formerly Twitter, by user @WizardSX0, said: “81-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze again in his signature style.”
The post included a video of McConnell in which he says: “What are my thoughts about what?” A person in the background shouts out “Running for reelection in 2026.”
McConnell turns and smiles but doesn’t reply. After a moment, an aide appears next to him and says “Did you hear the question, senator? Running for re-election in 2026?” McConnell makes an inaudible noise before the aide says, “Alright, I’m sorry, y’all, we’re gonna need a minute.”
After a few moments, McConnell turns back to the room and says “OK.” The aide then says “[If] somebody else has a question please speak up.”
The Facts
McConnell’s abrupt silences have led to calls for him to step down over concerns related to his health.
At the time of his first seize-up in late July, McConnell’s aides downplayed questions he would not serve out the remaining years of his term, chalking up his sudden silence to dehydration.
The video shared on X this week of McConnell freezing up, however, is not from a new incident. It was recorded in August, in Covington, Kentucky. The video was posted online by WLWT producer Hannah Thomas, and viewed 27.8 million times.
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We’ll have the full video on @WLWT pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV
— Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) August 30, 2023
After the episode, McConnell’s aides on Capitol Hill reportedly said the Kentucky Republican felt momentarily lightheaded and felt fine, adding he would consult a physician before his next event.
Newsweek has reached out to a media representative for McConnell via email for comment.
Months earlier, McConnell suffered a concussion and a broken rib after falling and hitting his head after a dinner event at a hotel, resulting in a nearly six-week absence from Capitol Hill.
Numerous media reports claim McConnell had been seen using a wheelchair in the airport between flights from Washington, D.C., to Kentucky. And in press conferences, he has audibly had more difficulty finishing sentences.
The Ruling
False.
The video shared on X was not recorded recently. It was filmed in Covington, Kentucky, in August, the second occasion in the past six months during which McConnell has abruptly stopped speaking during a public appearance.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek’s Fact Check team
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.