Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell experienced several frightening moments on Wednesday while standing at a podium speaking to reporters.
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McConnell, R-Ky., had been making his opening remarks when he suddenly stopped talking.
“Good afternoon, everyone. We’re on a path to finishing the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) this week, there’s been good bipartisan cooperation and a string of…” he said before he stopped speaking and appeared to draw a blank.
His Republican colleagues asked if he was okay as McConnell looked dazed and confused while he stood silently before being led away.
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., escorted McConnell away from the cameras and reporters.
“You OK, Mitch?” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wy., asked. “Is there anything else you want to say or should we just go back to your office?”
Shortly thereafter, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) appeared to make the sign of the cross as McConnell was being led away.
Fox News added:
McConnell then stepped to the side as Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and others addressed the press on the one-year anniversary of the Democrat-led Inflation Reduction Act passage. The GOP leader reappeared about 10 minutes later to finish the press conference.
Per NBC:
McConnell, 81, was released from a physical rehabilitation facility in late March where he had been for more than a week after a fall.
The Republican leader tripped and fell March 8 after an event for the Senate Leadership Fund — a Republican super PAC aligned with McConnell and GOP leadership — at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington.
He was hospitalized with a concussion and discharged March 13.
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It’s not clear, however, what caused McConnell to pause for so long at present.
A McConnell aide told Fox News that the senator afterward “felt light-headed and stepped away for a moment. He came back to handle Q and A, which, as everyone observed, was sharp.”
“I’m fine,” McConnell told reporters and proceeded to answer questions.