Senator Mitch McConnell, the veteran Republican leader from Kentucky, arrived at the Capitol on Monday utilizing a wheelchair and wearing a brace on his left leg, highlighting ongoing health issues for the 83-year-old legislator.
His recent appearance comes in the wake of a reported fall last week on the Senate steps, which occurred shortly after he voted to confirm Scott Turner as the new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Following the incident, Senators Steve Daines of Montana and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, both Republicans, provided assistance to help McConnell regain his balance.
A spokesperson for Kentucky’s senior senator confirmed last week that McConnell is “fine,” adding that the lingering effects of polio in his left leg will not interfere with his regular work schedule.
Having led Senate Republicans since 2007, McConnell has faced several significant health challenges in recent years. In March 2023, he suffered a concussion and a fractured rib due to a fall at a hotel in Washington, necessitating a period of rehabilitation and physical therapy before he could return to the Senate. Later that year, he appeared to freeze mid-sentence during two separate press conferences, which raised additional concerns regarding his health. His office later clarified that these incidents were attributed to lightheadedness.
On Wednesday, the former Senate Republican Leader cast the sole GOP vote against the confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard as the nation’s top intelligence official, a move that served as a significant signal to his Republican peers.
The senator’s health status, along with discussions surrounding aging lawmakers in Washington, has fueled an ongoing debate about term limits and the ability of long-serving officials to handle the demands of public office. Critics have described Congress as increasingly resembling an institution for the elderly, citing figures such as McConnell and Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who passed away in office in 2023 at the age of 90.
He holds the record as the longest-serving senator in Kentucky’s history and served as the Senate Republican Leader from 2007 to 2025, making him the longest-serving party leader in the history of the U.S. Senate. In February 2024, McConnell announced his intention to resign from the position of Senate Republican Leader in January 2025, while confirming that he would continue to serve as a senator until the conclusion of his term in January 2027. After stepping down from his leadership role, McConnell has been outspoken on foreign policy matters, urging the current administration to move away from isolationism and to emphasize military strength.
In an opinion article for the Courier-Journal in Louisville, McConnell voiced considerable concerns regarding President Trump’s trade policies, noting that Trump’s “aggressive proposals leave big, lingering concerns for American industry and workers.” Furthermore, he recognized the necessity for more decisive action from America’s neighboring countries concerning border issues, stating, “It’s high time for America’s closest neighbors to take the crisis at our border seriously.” Nevertheless, he reiterated his opposition to tariffs, asserting, “But no matter our best intentions, tariffs are bad policy.”
In a video from Haley Talbot of CNN, McConnell was seen in a boot and wheelchair for Monday’s votes.
