Mitch McConnell freezes up again: Here are his recent health scares

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze at a press conference in Kentucky on Wednesday, the second time he has had a health scare before cameras in roughly a month.

McConnell's office later sent a statement that the senator "felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today."

In July the 81-year-old Kentucky Republican, who is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, froze for roughly 28 seconds during a press conference at the Capitol. He had to be escorted away from a lectern by colleagues that time.

Wednesday's incident in Covington, Kentucky, occurred as he was asked about running for reelection in 2026. McConnell responded, "I’m sorry, I had a hard time hearing you."

When the question was repeated, he asked, "I talked about what?" Then he mumbled something inaudible.

He then stared straight ahead and gripped the podium without saying anything for about 30 seconds. During that time an aide asked him if he heard the question and repeated it. The aide then apologized and said they would "need a minute."

Another aide whispered something before McConnell said "OK." McConnell never answered the question about 2026 before he moved on to another question

The episodes come months after he suffered a concussion and a broken rib from a fall in March.

But McConnell has fallen at least two other times this year — once at a Washington, D.C. airport on July 14 and another time during a foreign trip in February — a source close to the senator who is familiar with his work habits confirmed with USA TODAY in July

The source, who asked for anonymity in order to speak freely, noted then that the GOP leader had still been walking around the Capitol for the past few months, delivering floor remarks and leading media stakeouts. But as a safeguard, the source said, McConnell has been using a wheelchair in certain circumstances.

"This is simply a prudent and precautionary measure in a crowded area," a McConnell spokesperson told USA TODAY when asked about the wheelchair.

McConnell has appeared at multiple events in Kentucky since July, including at the annual Fancy Farm political picnic and the annual Country Ham Breakfast at the state fair in Louisville.

When did Mitch McConnell fall?

In July, McConnell tripped and fell while getting off of a plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the source close to the GOP leader confirmed. He was not seriously injured and was later seen at the Capitol, according to NBC News.

McConnell also fell in February during a trip in Finland as part of a U.S. delegation, the source also confirmed. He dusted himself off and continued his activities, according to CNN, which first reported that fall.

Other lawmakers who were part of the delegation said the incident did not affect the meeting with Finland's president or other foreign officials.

McConnell's concussion in March

McConnell, a polio survivor, has for years walked with a noticeable limp and often has been assisted by aides and others when walking up and down the stairs.

In 2019, he tripped and fell at his home in Louisville, suffering a shoulder fracture.

But the most serious injury that we know about came this year after a fall at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, D.C., which sidelined McConnell for roughly six weeks. In that incident he slammed his head and suffered a concussion and broken ribs.

A concussion is another name for a traumatic brain injury that impact a person's vision, balance, speech, memory, emotions and more.

Experts describe concussions as invisible injuries that can be hard to properly recognize or treat with about 90% of the symptoms resolving within two weeks. But in some case those symptoms also linger for weeks with persistent post-concussion syndrome persisting for more than three months.

Did McConnell see a doctor?

Following Wednesday's incident in Northern Kentucky, a McConnell aide said in an email saying that McConnell feels fine and will consult with a physician before his next event.

It remains unclear what medical treatment McConnell received for the March injuries or any other fall that he's suffered this year.

The Republican leader's office has previously emphasized how McConnell remains active in his duties as minority leader. McConnell, one of the most powerful Republicans in the country, also has stiff-armed questions about his health saying he is fine when peppered with questions by reporters.

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Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Scott Wartman and Courier Journal reporter Joe Sonka contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mitch McConnell freezes up again: Here are his recent health scares