Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell appears to freeze for second time

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze during a news briefing in Kentucky on Wednesday. This follows a similar instance late last month.

During the news briefing, a reporter asks McConnell if he will run for re-election in 2026. The senator asks the reporter to repeat the question before staring for several seconds. A woman at the event interceded and asked McConnell if he heard the question and the senator continued to stare ahead. She then told the audience "we're going to need a minute."

McConnell's earlier instance happened during a news briefing in the U.S. Capitol in July. That time, fellow senators intervened and McConnell went to his office for a few minutes before returning to answer more questions.

McConnell, 81, suffered a concussion and a broken rib after a fall at a hotel event in March.