(GoRealNewsNow.com) – The highest-ranking Republican in the United States Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, stunned reporters during a press briefing after he froze up and seemed like he was having a stroke on live TV.
You can watch the alarming video at the bottom of this post.
81-year-old McConnell (R-KY) went quiet and started staring blankly just as he spoke at the microphone, but minutes later, he declared he was okay.
The Kentucky Republican has been in the US Senate for 38 years, one of its longest-serving members. He spoke during the weekly press conference on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“We’re on a path to finishing the NDAA this week. There’s been good bipartisan cooperation, and a string of…,” McConnell said before his stone-faced expression came up and lasted for about 20 seconds.
“Are you good, Mitch?” Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) intervened, as cited by The New York Post.
Another GOP senator, John Barrasso (R-WY), the Senate Republican Conference chairman, also checked on McConnell.
“Anything else you want to say or should we just go back to your office?” the Wyoming Republican asked.
At that point, the Senate Minority Leader shook his head and stepped back together with an aide.
After he returned towards the end of the press conference, McConnell was asked what caused his exit.
Manu Raju, CNN’s chief congressional correspondent, questioned whether the Republican’s freeze-up had anything to do with an “injury earlier this year when you suffered a concussion.”
“I’m fine,” McConnell responded.
“You’re fine, you’re fully able to do your job?” Raju insisted.
“Yep,” McConnell said, taking questions about First Son Hunter Biden’s failed plea deal earlier and House GOP’s discussions about impeaching President Joe Biden.
A McConnell aide later revealed the minority leader “felt light-headed and stepped away for a moment” but then came back to answer questions, “which as everyone observed was sharp.”
In March, McConnell felled at a fundraiser at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in DC, suffering a concussion.
He came back to Congress five weeks later and joked about the incident.
“Suffice it to say, this wasn’t the first time being hardheaded has served me very well,” the Senate Minority Leader declared.
Here is the video:
Um, did Mitch McConnell just have a stroke…?
pic.twitter.com/CiMhYdEiBg— it’s-a me, Tina 🤌🏽 (@THerman23) July 26, 2023
