Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is facing renewed scrutiny over his health after appearing to freeze when a reporter asked him about Republicans’ devastating midterm election losses.
The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican was approached by Newsmax congressional correspondent Kilmeny Duchardt, who asked for his reaction to the GOP’s election setbacks and what he believed needed to change.
McConnell briefly looked toward the camera before staring straight ahead without answering. After several awkward seconds, an aide appeared to wave the reporter away.
The footage quickly went viral, reportedly attracting more than 4 million views on X and sparking fresh calls for congressional term and age limits.
The incident comes amid longstanding concerns about McConnell’s health.
In 2023, the former Senate Republican leader experienced two widely publicized freezing episodes during press appearances, including one in Kentucky when he remained silent for approximately 30 seconds.
