Is time for McConnell to hang up his hat?
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, has experienced several falls this year, raising concerns about his health and well-being. According to CNN, the first incident occurred in February while he was in Finland as part of a U.S. delegation meeting with Finnish president Sauli Niinistö in Helsinki. On a snowy day, as McConnell exited a car and headed towards the meeting, he tripped and fell. However, he quickly recovered and continued with the meeting, even though fellow Senator Ted Budd, a Republican from North Carolina, expressed concern for him.
According to Newsmax, The second fall took place in March during a fundraiser at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, resulting in a concussion and fractured rib. This incident forced McConnell to take a nearly six-week break from his Senate duties.
More recently, in early this month, McConnell reportedly fell again at Reagan International Airport in Washington while trying to depart from an airplane. Despite the incident, he managed to return to the Capitol later that day.
On a separate occasion, during a news conference on Wednesday, McConnell experienced a momentary freeze for about 20 seconds, causing alarm among reporters. He was accompanied back to his office by an aide and Senator John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming. McConnell later returned to the news conference and assured everyone that he was alright.
It is not just McConnell who has faced health-related concerns due to advancing age. President Joe Biden, who is 80 years old, has also stumbled on the steps of Air Force One and during other events. Likewise, Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California and the oldest serving member of Congress at 90, has been dealing with health issues, including shingles, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. Recently, she appeared confused during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing and needed to be reminded to vote “aye” on a defense spending bill.