Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) raised concerns Wednesday about Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell’s two recent health episodes, making him the first member of McConnell’s caucus to argue that the 81-year-old is no longer fit for leadership.
“I don’t think you can have it both ways,” Hawley told reporters on Capitol Hill. “If you’re concerned about the president’s ability to do his job, and I am, and a lot of Republicans say they are, you have to be concerned when it’s someone from your own party. I mean, it can’t be sauce for the goose and not for the gander.”
“Do I think McConnell should be Leader? No. If you’re concerned about Biden’s ability to do his job, then you’ve got to be concerned when it’s somebody of your own party.”
“Twenty-twenty-four is an awfully important election for Republicans,” Hawley added. “We should’ve taken back the Senate last year – we didn’t. This is our shot to take it back, and I just hope we’re going to be focused on that.”
Most Senate Republicans have remained silent on McConnell’s health issues while a few have expressed continued confidence in his leadership. Hawley is the first senator to forcefully state that McConnell is no longer able to perform his duties.
McConnell froze for about 30 seconds during two separate news conferences held just over a month apart, the first on July 26 and the other on August 30.
On Tuesday, a Capitol Hill doctor ruled out the possibility of a “seizure disorder” or stroke following the latest incident. After the diagnosis was released, Kentucky senator Rand Paul, with his prior medical experience, called it into question.
“I’ve practiced medicine for 25 years, and it doesn’t look like dehydration to me. It looks like a focal neurologic event,” Paul said Tuesday. “That doesn’t mean it’s incapacitating, doesn’t mean he can’t serve. But it means that somebody ought to wake up and say, ‘Wow, this looks like a seizure.'”
After the first medical scare, McConnell was escorted away before returning to the podium and reassuring reporters, “I’m fine.” McConnell returned to work in both instances.
Earlier this week, the GOP leader said he’s planning on finishing out his two-year term as the Senate minority leader, which ends in 2025. However, his senator term doesn’t expire until 2027.
Last Thursday, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley commented on McConnell’s health, likening his old age to California senator Dianne Feinstein and President Joe Biden.
“What I will say is, right now, the Senate is the most privileged nursing home in the country,” Haley said. “I mean, Mitch McConnell has done some great things and he deserves credit. But you have to know when to leave.”
McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and became the longest-serving GOP Senate leader this January.