McConnell appears to freeze while speaking with reporters in Kentucky | CNN Politics
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze for about 30 seconds on Wednesday while speaking with reporters after a speech in Covington, Kentucky.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze for about 30 seconds on Wednesday while speaking with reporters after a speech in Covington, Kentucky.

The incident is similar to an episode McConnell experienced at the US Capitol late last month and is likely to raise additional questions about the fitness of the 81-year-old to lead the Senate Republican caucus.

Wednesday’s episode occurred when a reporter asked the Republican leader if he was planning to run for reelection in 2026. McConnell had to ask him to repeat the question several times, chuckled for a moment, and then paused.

Someone at his side then asked him, “Did you hear the question, senator, running for reelection in 2026?” McConnell did not respond.

Article includes video of the incident.

  • flipht
    31•10 months ago

    Its either happening frequently and just happens to have been caught on camera twice, or it could instead be related to hearing well enough to understand.

    My grandparents were like this. Even if they could hear you, a lot of times it seemed out of context to them because they missed some other important piece.

    • @grabyourmotherskeys@lemmy.world
      49•10 months ago

      The people handling him knew exactly what was going on there. This happens all the time, I’m guessing.

      Source: youngest grandchild of a huge family.

    • Jordan LundEnglish
      38•10 months ago

      You’d think if it were a hearing issue he would just say “Could you repeat the question?” and not stand there like a deer in headlights.

      🦌💡💡

    • @Spendrill@lemm.ee
      15•10 months ago

      Schrödinger’s McConnell: competent enough to lead the Republicans in Senate, not competent enough to answer questions about Trump under oath.

    • @merc@sh.itjust.works
      13•10 months ago

      Yeah, that’s not a hearing issue. I’ve seen people with hearing issues who zone out because they can’t hear / follow the conversation. But, they’re not at a podium at the time. When that happens they know they can just back out of the conversation and hang out until the conversation is over, or the meal is over, or whatever.

      When you’re at the podium you know you’re the focus of attention and need to respond. You can’t just stand there with a blank look. That looked more like a stroke or a seizure than a lack of hearing.

    • @captainlezbian@lemmy.world
      8•10 months ago

      Yeah idk if auditory processing goes with age but you can also have delays from that.

      That said if this were that you’d think he’d get hearing aids after the last one

    • @SatanicNotMessianic@lemmy.ml
      6•10 months ago

      Senators are among the most powerful politicians in the US, as well as on the planet, and they know it. They don’t stand there befuddled because they’re socially awkward. If they’re befuddled, it’s because they’re befuddled.

      We are seeing the human version of the Mac’s spinning beach ball. I have a cat with the same problem. I would not nominate her for a seat in the Senate.