Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., center, is helped by, from left, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, after the 81-year-old GOP leader froze at the microphones as he arrived for a news conference, at the Capitol in Washington, on July 26.J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own news conference on Tuesday after stopping his remarks mid-sentence and staring off into space for several seconds.
The Republican leader approached the podium for his weekly news conference and began speaking about the annual defence bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with “good bipartisan co-operation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out “uh …”
He then appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.
He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. McConnell later returned to the news conference and answered questions from the press.
Asked about what happened, McConnell said he was “fine.” He did not elaborate.
McConnell, 81, was out of the Senate for almost six weeks earlier this year after falling and hitting his head. His office later said he suffered a concussion and fractured a rib.