Mitch McConnell, the senior Kentucky senator aged 82, faced a fall on Tuesday, December 10, as reported by several sources. This incident occurred while he was leaving a Senate GOP luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. According to reports from Axios, The Hill, and ABC News, McConnell had spoken during the lunch, which was hosted by Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso from Wyoming. After the incident, Barrasso escorted McConnell back to his office, with a medical team following behind in a wheelchair.

Senator's Condition and Aftermath

South Dakota Sen. John Thune, who is set to succeed McConnell as the Republican Senate leader, stated in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that McConnell is "fine" and "in his office." Barrasso told reporters that McConnell fell in an area outside the Senate chamber and has a scratch on his face, as reported by Axios. PEOPLE reached out to McConnell's team for comment about his condition but did not receive an immediate response.Over the past year, McConnell's health has been a matter of concern. In August 2023, during a press conference with reporters when asked about his reelection plans in 2026, he suddenly stopped speaking. An aide responded and repeated the question. When McConnell remained unresponsive, a second aide approached him. He recovered moments later and moved on to the next question. A spokesperson at the time said, "Leader McConnell felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today." An aide added, "While he feels fine, as a prudential measure, the Leader will be consulting a physician prior to his next event."A similar incident took place during a press conference in July. This time, when McConnell froze, his colleagues asked if he wanted to go back to his office. He was seen turning away from the podium before returning to continue addressing the reporters. One reporter asked if the incident was related to the concussion he suffered in March 2023 after a fall at a dinner event, to which McConnell said, "I'm fine."In an October 2023 appearance on CBS News' Face the Nation, McConnell addressed the concerns for his health. He said, "I'm fine. I'm completely recovered, and I'm just fine." He told moderator Margaret Brennan during the interview, "I'm in good shape, completely recovered and back on the job," before adding, "I think we ought to be talking about what we were talking about earlier, rather than my health."Earlier this year, McConnell announced that he would vacate his Republican Senate Leader position in November after serving as the conference leader since 2007. He said, "One of life's most under-appreciated talents is to know when it's time to move on to life's next chapter." He revealed that he plans to remain in Congress through the remainder of his term, which expires in January 2027.