Senator McConnell’s brain scans found no stroke, seizures after second freeze

Senator McConnell’s brain scans found no stroke, seizures after second freeze, per CNBC.

He was cleared by his physician to continue his work.

In July, during a weekly Republican leadership news conference, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a sudden pause in his speech, freezing momentarily before falling silent and stepping away.

McConnell, who was discussing an annual defense policy bill, remained silent for 19 seconds, raising concerns among his Republican colleagues. Sen. John Barrasso, a top McConnell deputy and former physician, came to his aid and guided the 81-year-old McConnell away from the cameras and reporters.

Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa made a hand gesture that was initially misinterpreted as a sign of the cross. However, her office clarified later that she was actually signaling for Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota.

After a few minutes, McConnell returned to the news conference on his own. When asked about his health, he reassured everyone that he was fine and capable of performing his duties. Despite the episode, McConnell participated in a sharp question and answer session.

A McConnell aide explained that the Senator felt lightheaded, prompting him to briefly step away. The aide emphasized that McConnell's response during the Q&A was coherent and sharp.

Notably, this incident follows a previous fall on March 8 when McConnell tripped and injured himself after an event for the Senate Leadership Fund. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with a concussion and minor rib fracture, eventually being discharged on March 13 before undergoing rehab.

tastytrade logo+
Get the best broker for options trading and earn Unusual Whales discounted! in cash with an eligible account deposit at tastytrade. Get an Unusual Whales bonus when you deposit $2000. Offer expires 3/31/25. Certain restrictions, terms and conditions apply.
Unusual Whales does not confirm the information's truthfulness or accuracy of the associated references, data, and cannot verify any of the information. Any content on this site or related pages are not intended to provide legal, tax, investment or insurance advice. Unusual Whales Inc. is not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or any state securities regulatory authority. Nothing on Unusual Whales should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by Unusual Whales or any third party. Options, investing, trading is risky, and losses are more expected than profits. Please do own research before investing. Please only subscribe after reading our full terms and understanding options and the market, and the inherent risks of trading. It is highly recommended not to trade on this, or any, information from Unusual Whales. Markets are risky, and you will likely lose some or all of your capital. Please check our terms for full details.
Any content on this site or related pages are not intended to provide legal, tax, investment or insurance advice. Unusual Whales Inc. is not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or any state securities regulatory authority. Nothing on Unusual Whales should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by Unusual Whales or any third party. Certain investment planning tools available on Unusual Whales may provide general investment education based on your input. You are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, investment strategy, security or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances and risk tolerance. You should consult your legal or tax professional regarding your specific situation. See terms for more information.