Senator Mitch McConnell had an unexpected “hall pass” on Thursday—literally. The 83-year-old Kentucky Republican briefly collapsed in the Capitol corridors while heading to the Senate, prompting aides to swoop in and steady him.
Video footage captured the unsteady march toward the Senate chambers, leaving observers worried about the longtime lawmaker’s health. Even seasoned politicians can’t escape the occasional stumble in the hallowed halls of Congress .
During the incident, an activist from the Sunrise Movement asked the senator whether he supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement “taking working people off the streets and kidnapping them,” before McConnell fell forward and landed on his side.
The video captured his aide and a Capitol Police officer helping him up before McConnell turned to the camera and waved. A spokesman for McConnell told The Independent that the senator is “all good.”
McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in the upper chamber’s history, has been under intense scrutiny regarding his health following several public incidents where he appeared to freeze while speaking to reporters.
Earlier this year, he reportedly suffered two falls and experienced a similar incident in December inside the Capitol, resulting in minor injuries. McConnell, who has walked with a limp after recovering from polio at a young age, returned to the Senate shortly after with a bandage on his cheek.
In 2023, McConnell froze while speaking on at least two occasions and was absent from the Senate for weeks after tripping at a Washington dinner, sustaining a concussion and a minor rib fracture. Last year, Senator John Thune succeeded McConnell as the Senate Republican leader, ending an 18-year tenure as the party leader in the upper chamber.
Video footage captured the unsteady march toward the Senate chambers, leaving observers worried about the longtime lawmaker’s health. Even seasoned politicians can’t escape the occasional stumble in the hallowed halls of Congress .
During the incident, an activist from the Sunrise Movement asked the senator whether he supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement “taking working people off the streets and kidnapping them,” before McConnell fell forward and landed on his side.
The video captured his aide and a Capitol Police officer helping him up before McConnell turned to the camera and waved. A spokesman for McConnell told The Independent that the senator is “all good.”
Mitch McConnell takes a ROUGH fall in the Russell Senate Office Building pic.twitter.com/yLl0Ct4pNo
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) October 16, 2025
McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in the upper chamber’s history, has been under intense scrutiny regarding his health following several public incidents where he appeared to freeze while speaking to reporters.
Earlier this year, he reportedly suffered two falls and experienced a similar incident in December inside the Capitol, resulting in minor injuries. McConnell, who has walked with a limp after recovering from polio at a young age, returned to the Senate shortly after with a bandage on his cheek.
In 2023, McConnell froze while speaking on at least two occasions and was absent from the Senate for weeks after tripping at a Washington dinner, sustaining a concussion and a minor rib fracture. Last year, Senator John Thune succeeded McConnell as the Senate Republican leader, ending an 18-year tenure as the party leader in the upper chamber.
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