Outgoing Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appeared to have yet another health episode on Capitol Hill this week.
After a series of recent mishaps that left McConnell, 83, injured, now video has surfaced showing the longtime Republican having difficulty hearing a question from a reporter until an aide moved within inches of his ear and informed him of the question.
Here’s the latest on McConnell.
In a video posted to social media, a reporter can be heard asking McConnell about tariffs and whether he has had discussions with President Donald Trump about the impact of tariffs or how it is “a bad policy.”
“Senator McConnell, a question about tariffs,” a reporter can be heard asking.
“You called it a bad policy back in February, have you had any conversations with the President just about that impact, or what that looks like here in Kentucky, or talked to him about it being a bad policy at all?”
“My hearing is not what it used to be,” McConnell admitted.
“Tariffs, Senator, your comment is about tariffs,” an aide can be heard saying off screen, as McConnell looks over, appearing confused.
“Tariffs…..comment about tariffs,” the aide repeats as she can be seen inches from McConnell’s ear.
“Oh, yeah,” McConnell says. “I’m not a fan of tariffs.”
Watch the back-and-forth below —
OOF: Mitch McConnell can't hear a question from a reporter until an aide practically shouts the topic inches from his ear pic.twitter.com/nL7TC2PPEx
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) March 19, 2025
This latest incident comes after a series of serious health scares witnessed on Capitol Hill.
The longtime Republican has froze up during statements to the public on multiple occasions, with his office never providing an explanation for the episodes.
Most recently, McConnell fell while exiting the Senate chamber earlier. He also fell during a GOP lunch in December, requiring the use of a wheelchair. Witnesses saw McConnell wearing a “brace on his wrist, a bruised hand, and bandages on his finger and face,” after falling.
The fall continued “a pattern that raised alarms in 2023.”
In February, McConnell revealed that he would not be seeking reelection for “an eighth time.”
McConnell served in the Senate for decades, including as Senate majority leader under President Donald Trump’s first administration.
McConnell is the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, and he announced his retirement on his 83rd birthday.
“Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,” McConnell said in prepared remarks to the Senate floor last month.
“Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.”
“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter,” he said in floor remarks.
“So I stand before you today… to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”
First elected in 1984, McConnell will serve out the rest of his term ending in January 2027.
McConnell’s departure also comes at a time of a contentious relationship with Trump, addressing their rocky relationship in a recent CBS “60 Minutes” interview.
McConnell denied he had “screaming matches” with Trump, and instead described their fights as “candid conversations.”
“We had a candid relationship,” McConnell said with a chuckle when asked about the reported screaming matches during Trump’s first term.
When questioned about biographical revelations that he called Trump “nasty” and a “sleazeball,” McConnell responded: “Those were private comments.”
“But they’re in your biography,” “60 Minutes” host Leslie Stahl interjected.
“Yeah,” McConnell admitted.