Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) faced a mixed reception from voters at the Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky over the weekend, with some chanting “retire” and “ditch Mitch” during his speech.
Despite the vocal opposition, McConnell remained composed and continued with his address.
This comes on the heels of a recent incident where he froze during a press conference, causing concern among his colleagues and the public.
During the press conference, McConnell went silent and appeared to struggle with his opening remarks.
“Well, good afternoon, everyone,” he said immediately after arriving at the podium. “We’re on a path to finishing the NDAA this week. There’s been good bipartisan cooperation, as well as a string of, uh,” then he trailed off.
Those around him in the video appear to be quite concerned before staffers escorted him off. Later, it was revealed that he experienced lightheadedness, leading to the extended pause.
RELATED: Mitch McConnell Has Health Issue On Live TV, Freezes During Presser, Gets Escorted Away From Podium
In another incident earlier that month, reports surfaced that McConnell had tripped and fallen while disembarking a plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Fortunately, he sustained no serious injuries and returned to business as usual the same day.
Given his history of difficult falls and health concerns, McConnell has since been using a wheelchair to navigate crowded airports as a precaution.
As the longest-serving party leader in the history of the U.S. Senate at 81 years old, McConnell’s health and ability to continue leading have become a topic of concern among voters and his political peers.
Former President Trump weighed in on the situation, suggesting that McConnell should consider stepping down and focusing on his well-being. He acknowledged the possibility of other capable individuals taking over the Senate leadership role.
Despite the calls for retirement, McConnell has remained firm in his commitment continue as Majority Leader and has assured reporters that he is fine.
While some attendees at the Kentucky picnic voiced their desire for him to retire, it remains to be seen if this will have any impact on his future decisions.
He is not the only senior senator facing calls to retire. Senator Diane Feinstein, a democrat from California, recently underwent a health scare and hospitalization. She has not been the same since returning to work.
Many are calling for age and term limits for both the House and Congress. Of course, they would have to implement the rules against themselves so it seems rather unlikely.
