Senator Mitch McConnell, the long-serving Republican leader from Kentucky, once again found himself at the center of health concerns on Wednesday after suffering two falls inside the U.S. Capitol. The incidents, which reportedly happened in quick succession, have raised fresh questions about the 82-year-old senator’s ability to maintain his demanding schedule as he approaches the final years of his term.
According to Punchbowl News’ Max Cohen, McConnell first fell while exiting the Senate chamber after casting a vote to confirm Scott Turner as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Moments later, he fell again while entering a closed-door GOP lunch. During the first incident, fellow Republican senators Steve Daines of Montana and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma stepped in to help McConnell back to his feet.
John Bresnahan, co-founder of Punchbowl News, provided additional details about the second fall, noting that McConnell landed on his side while carrying a plate of food. He reportedly sustained minor bruising to his face, though there was no immediate indication of a serious injury. Later in the day, McConnell was seen exiting the GOP lunch holding onto an aide for support, and another image circulated showing him being transported in a wheelchair, which his team described as a precautionary measure.
Mitch McConnell is in a wheelchair after falling multiple times today pic.twitter.com/pDd03oBgQl
— Max Cohen (@maxpcohen) February 5, 2025
“Senator McConnell is fine,” a spokesperson assured The Daily Wire, attributing the senator’s instability to the lingering effects of polio in his left leg. “The lingering effects of polio in his left leg will not disrupt his regular schedule of work.”
While McConnell’s team sought to downplay the significance of the falls, the incidents add to a growing list of health concerns that have shadowed the senator over the past year. In March 2023, McConnell suffered a concussion after falling at a Washington, D.C. hotel, an injury that required hospitalization. In the months that followed, he experienced multiple high-profile episodes in which he appeared to freeze mid-sentence during press conferences, prompting concerns about cognitive decline. More recently, in December, McConnell tripped again, sustaining a cut on his face and a sprained wrist.
McConnell, a childhood polio survivor, announced last February that he would not seek another term as Senate GOP leader, signaling the end of his historic run as the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. However, he has made it clear that he intends to serve out the remainder of his current Senate term, which expires in January 2027.
“I still have enough gas in my tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics, and I intend to do so with all the enthusiasm with which they’ve become accustomed,” McConnell quipped during remarks on the Senate floor after announcing his leadership exit.
Despite stepping down from leadership, McConnell has remained active in policy debates, particularly in pushing back against what he describes as an “isolationist movement” within his own party. In a radio interview following his leadership announcement, he reiterated his commitment to staying in the Senate, dismissing speculation that he might retire early.
“I’m not leaving the Senate,” McConnell said. “And I’m particularly involved in actually fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party and so many others as well.”