Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell had yet another health meltdown on Tuesday, when he fell Tuesday leaving a Republican senate lunch meeting. McConnell reportedly sustained facial injuries and a sprained wrist, adding another concerned incident regarding the 82-year-old senator’s health as he prepares to step down from leadership.
“Leader McConnell tripped following lunch. He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule,” his office confirmed.
Washington, D.C. Emergency Medical Services personnel were seen entering his office, where a wheelchair had been brought.
Spokesman Doug Andres claimed this fall, a scary incident for someone as senior as McConnell, was just part of his ongoing health challenges.
“You all who have followed him closely know that he has a weak left leg and has occasionally taken a spill because of lasting effects from polio,” Andres said.
The incident follows a series of serious health scares in 2023, including a March fall resulting in a concussion and two public “freezing” episodes during press conferences.
McConnell also “faceplanted” while disembarking a plane at Reagan National Airport and previously fractured his shoulder in a 2019 fall at his Kentucky home.
Sen. John Thune, who will succeed McConnell as Republican leader, briefly addressed the incident.
“He is fine, he’s in his office, and any other questions about Sen. McConnell, (I’ll) refer to his staff,” Thune said.
McConnell’s health issues emerge amid broader scrutiny of aging politicians, following Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s death in office at 90 and President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection bid amid dementia concerns.
“I still have enough gas in my tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics, and I intend to do so with all the enthusiasm with which they’ve become accustomed,” McConnell said when announcing his leadership departure in February,
While he’s surrendering his leadership role in the Senate, the Kentucky Republican plans to serve his Senate term through January 2027 and may still announce if he’ll seek an eighth term.
His stepping down as GOP leader after roughly 18 years comes amid tensions with President-elect Donald Trump, as party members sought more MAGA-aligned leadership.
New pictures of 82-year-old Senator Mitch McConnell's injuries have surfaced after his fall yesterday that required EMT intervention.
Maybe it's time to pack it in Mitch? pic.twitter.com/S2eJbRe1Gs
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) December 11, 2024