Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was a no-show at the Senate GOP leadership weekly press conference Tuesday, likely the last of the Kentucky senator’s nearly two-decade stint as leader, after a fall last week.
McConnell’s absence marks the second straight week without the longest-serving leader at the podium. On Dec. 10, he fell and sprained his wrist as he was leaving a GOP lunch and was treated by medical staff during his scheduled appearance. At the time, his team said he was “fine” and that he was examined by the attending physician. Later last week, McConnell’s office informed reporters he was working from home Thursday after he was “experiencing leg stiffness” following his fall.
Noteable – current Senate Minority Leader @LeaderMcConnell is not leading what is likely to be the last presser of the year at the Ohio Clock, the last of his reign as GOP senate leader. McConnell fell last week at a Senate luncheon. pic.twitter.com/ltrAJAnwPs
— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) December 17, 2024
According to an aide, McConnell, 82, skipped the weekly GOP presser Tuesday as a precaution. His leg stiffness is better, but he’s still recovering. He attended a Senate GOP lunch and gave a “pep talk,” during which he urged sticking together as a team next year and received a standing ovation from his Senate colleagues.
Per aide, McConnell skipped the weekly GOP presser today as a precaution. His leg stiffness is better, but he’s still recovering.
— David Sivak (@DISivak) December 17, 2024
Ahead of the press conference, McConnell was seen walking by the Senate doors with the support of an aide. In the morning, he delivered a speech on the Senate floor where he paid tribute to his deputy chief of staff, Stefanie Muchow. He was also in attendance at votes Monday evening.
The Kentucky senator has had a series of health problems over the last year. He was hospitalized and treated for a concussion in March 2023 after tripping and falling. He also appeared to have difficulty speaking during a press conference in Kentucky last summer and froze up for about 30 seconds when asked if he would run for reelection, the second such incident.
McConnell will step down as the Senate’s top Republican in January, bringing an end to a record tenure as the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history. The Kentucky Republican is expected to remain in the Senate next term when Sen. John Thune (R-SD) takes over at the helm of the Senate GOP conference.
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When McConnell announced his departure from Senate leadership in February, he vowed that he was “not going anywhere” and would continue to serve as a Kentucky senator, “albeit from a different seat, and I’m actually looking forward to that.”
McConnell has pledged to serve out the remaining two years of his six-year Senate term, which ends in January 2027.
David Sivak contributed to this report.