84-Year-Old Mitch McConnell Hospitalized After ‘Unknown Medical Incident’

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was hospitalized Sunday following an unknown medical incident, according to a spokesman.

“Senator McConnell was admitted to the hospital this morning. He is receiving excellent care,” David Popp, spokesperson for the senator, said in a statement, according to Politico. 

The 84-year-old senator is a polio survivor and has, at times, had balance issues and sometimes needs to use rails to assist him in walking. In February 2025, the longtime Senate Majority Leader announced he would not seek reelection after a series of concerning medical setbacks.  

In 2023, he was rushed to the hospital after he tripped and fell during dinner.

A couple of months later, the Kentucky Republican went viral for all the wrong reasons, freezing up in a concerning medical episode while speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill. 

Odd moment: McConnell freezes at start of Senate GOP leadership press conference and is escorted to the side by his colleagues pic.twitter.com/hT5bLnstOS

— Raquel Martin (@RaquelMartinTV) July 26, 2023

“Good afternoon, everyone. We’re on a path to finishing the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) this week, there’s been good bipartisan cooperation and a string of …” McConnell said, before going silent for about 20 seconds before some of his colleagues intervened to check on him.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), who is a physician, grabbed onto McConnell’s arm and asked, “You okay, Mitch?”

“Is there anything else you want to say or should we just go back to your office?” Barrasso asked. “Do you want to say anything else to the press?”

Barrasso and McConnell then stepped away for a brief period of time before returning.

 Sen. John Thune (R-SD) took over the press conference and addressed the media.

An aide for McConnell at the time said that the senator “felt light-headed and stepped away for a moment. He came back to handle Q and A, which, as everyone observed, was sharp.”

Back in 2019, McConnell also suffered a fractured shoulder after he tripped and fell at his home in Kentucky.

With few details available about the cause of his hospitalization or his condition, colleagues on Capitol Hill offered their well-wishes.

“Join me in lifting Senator McConnell in prayer for a swift recovery. Grateful to hear he is receiving excellent care from his medical team, and we look forward to seeing him in the Senate halls soon,” Senator Tim Scott said.