United States: Mitch McConnell, the boss of the Republicans in the Senate, still freezes in front of the cameras

BLACK-out This new incident, the second in a month, raises a little more questions about the health of the Republican tenor, victim of a concussion in beginning of the year, and on his estate

Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republicans in the United States Senate , again froze during a press conference, August 30, 2023 — NBC/WLTWT5

New alert for Mitch McConnell. The leader of the Republicans in the United States Senate has sparked Wednesday of serious concerns about his health, being the victim of a long period of absence in the middle of a press conference, for the second time in a month.

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According to his spokesperson, McConnell felt “dizzy for a moment and paused during his press conference” “He feels fine but will be cautious to see a doctor.”

While traveling in his home state of Kentucky, Senator McConnell, 81, seemed paralyzed for about thirty seconds, in the inability to to respond to a question from a journalist. He had just been interrogated. on his will to run again in 2026.

Patron of Republicans in the Senate since 2007

The Republican tenor had already went through a very similar episode on July 26, freezing for no reason in the middle of a press conference at the Capitol, before his entourage invited him to talk to him. slip away. Asked about Mitch McConnell’s condition, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre wished him well. “a speedy recovery.” hospitalized after a fall during a private dinner, which had earned him a concussion, a broken rib and almost six weeks out.

Mitch McConnell, undisputed leader Republicans in the Senate since 2007, has found to this title at the forefront of the fight against the policies of the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama (2009-2017), but also to support Donald Trump, arrived in power in January 2017.

Difficult relations with Donald Trump

Between these two men who hate each other, the alliance is above all circumstantial. Mitch McConnell congratulated himself on to have been able to confirm a record number of conservative federal judges, as well as three to three; the Supreme Court. But he had criticized forceful Donald Trump’s actions during the Capitol storming, without however going so far as to’’ vote to convict him in the Senate on his second impeachment.

McConnell also believes that Donald Trump has cost to the Republicans the majority in the Senate in 2020 and in the midterms of last November with his obsession with the imaginary fraud in the presidential election, then by supporting conspiratorial candidates. Donald Trump, he regularly attacks McConnell on social networks, accusing him of lacking loyalty.

Last January, Mitch McConnell broke the longevity record. of a party leader in the Senate by dethroning Democrat Mike Mansfield, in office for 16 years in the 1960s-70s. While his retirement could be hasty, two Johns hold the rope to succeed him: the senator from South Dakota, John Thune, current number 2 in the hierarchy, and Texan John Cornyn, former “”whip” (whip) of the party. Their first name is not their only common point: they both criticized Donald Trump and his repelling effect among the moderates.