U.S. Senator suddenly collapses on Capitol Hill
Not everyone in office is in the best of shape. And now it’s getting scary.
And a U.S. Senator suddenly collapsed on Capitol Hill.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a fall on Tuesday afternoon after the weekly Republican conference lunch, leaving him with a cut on his face and a sprained wrist, according to his office.
“Leader McConnell tripped following lunch,” a spokesman for the Kentucky Republican said in a statement.
“He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule.”
The 82-year-old senator received treatment from EMTs in his Senate office shortly after the incident. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) reassured reporters that McConnell was recovering well.
“He is fine. He is in his office,” Thune said, calming concerns about McConnell’s condition.
Details about the fall were sparse, though it is believed he slipped in a room near the Senate chamber. Photographers reportedly observed the visible cut on his face, and medical personnel were seen entering his office.
Thune, 63, who was chosen by Senate Republicans last November to succeed McConnell as their leader, will assume the role following the 2024 election.
McConnell, often referred to as the “Kentucky sage,” announced in February that he would step down as GOP leader after the election cycle.
The announcement came after several health scares over the past year.
In March 2023, McConnell suffered a concussion and fractured rib after a fall at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Washington, an injury that required a brief hospital stay.
Later that July, he fell again while deplaning from a canceled flight at Ronald Reagan National Airport, though that incident was kept under wraps for weeks.
Also in July, McConnell stunned Capitol Hill when he abruptly froze mid-sentence during a weekly press conference, appearing stone-faced and silent for about a minute.
Similar incidents followed, sparking questions about his health.
His team attributed the episodes to lingering effects of his concussion, with assurances from medical professionals.
Despite stepping down from his leadership position, which he’s held since 2007, McConnell has been tight-lipped about whether he will seek reelection in 2026.
His tenure as Senate GOP leader makes him the longest-serving leader of any party in the chamber’s history.
McConnell’s resilience has been a hallmark of his career.
A polio survivor, he contracted the disease at age two, leaving his upper left leg paralyzed — a challenge he has faced with determination throughout his life.
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