Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, caused concern among press conference attendees after the Kentucky Republican froze in front of the microphone for several seconds.
On Wednesday afternoon, McConnell appeared before the media came out and began discussing the National Defense Authorization Act he is working on. However, in the middle of his statements, the representative made a strange pause that lasted more than 20 seconds.
The pause was so disconcerting that his Republican colleagues intervened and asked him if he was feeling OK. "Are you OK, Mitch, is there anything else you want to say or should we get back to your office?" asked Wyoming Republican John Barrasso.
Two colleagues immediately escorted McConnell from the podium, and South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune continued the press conference.
Odd moment: McConnell freezes at start of Senate GOP leadership press conference and is escorted to the side by his colleagues pic.twitter.com/hT5bLnstOS
— Raquel Martin (@RaquelMartinTV) July 26, 2023
Shortly after that, the 81-year-old Senate leader returned to the round of questions, and that's when a reporter asked him about what happened, and he replied, "I'm fine."
McConnell has had to deal with some health issues this year after suffering a concussion and fracturing a rib from a fall he took at a hotel. The senator required physical therapy for six weeks, but it is unknown if this had any connection with the episode on Wednesday.
Reporters present also asked Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, about her colleague's health status, and she replied that as far as she knew, "everything's OK."
