Mitch McConnell is bursting onto the scene, putting an end to the frenzy surrounding his recent freezes.
The Kentucky Republican emerged in front of the press on Wednesday, breaking his silence since his dramatic 30-second on-camera pause last week. The questions about his health and his future leading the Senate GOP came at him like a torrent, but McConnell, known for his trademark brevity, effortlessly deflected them. It was clear that after privately briefing his colleagues, he had no intention of rehashing the same details for the media.
Rather than diving into a detailed explanation, McConnell leaned on the authority of two letters from Capitol physician Brian Monahan, letters that have raised eyebrows among Senate Republicans, including Kentucky’s own Senator Rand Paul. But McConnell didn’t mince words, confidently stating to the assembled reporters, “Dr. Monahan covered the subject in full. You’ve had a chance to read it. I don’t have anything to add to it. And I think it should answer any reasonable question.”
In a show of unwavering determination, McConnell emphasized what has become increasingly evident in recent days: he has no plans of relinquishing his leadership anytime soon, despite his Senate term extending until 2026.
“I have no announcements to make on that subject. I’m going to finish my term as leader, and I’m going to finish my Senate term,” declared McConnell, his term as leader set to conclude at the end of this Congress. With that, he confidently walked away from the throng of reporters.
Before this decisive appearance, McConnell faced no inquiries about his health from fellow GOP senators during a closed-door meeting. After disclosing his condition and the battery of tests he underwent to his 49-member conference, there were no follow-up questions. The discussion swiftly shifted to other pressing matters.
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana described the meeting, saying, “Mitch talked about his health history, he went over the tests he’s had, and said he’s been given a clean bill of health. He indicated he’s had two of these episodes, and both of them happened to be in a press conference. Otherwise, he worked hard in August and raised about $49 million. And there were no questions, and then we moved onto other topics.”
In an impressive show of support, McConnell-aligned political groups, including the Senate Leadership Fund, announced on Wednesday that they had raised nearly $50 million in August. Steven Law, a former McConnell chief of staff who now runs the SLF super PAC, was present at Wednesday’s GOP conference meeting.
Senator Mitt Romney of Utah voiced his confidence in McConnell, stating, “I don’t think there’s any question about him being able to continue leading the caucus. He’s proven he’s able to raise money like no one else in our political history at this level, and I think he’ll continue to have full support.”
While McConnell faced two public freeze-ups this summer, alarming Republicans each time, this week marked a shift toward transparency on a topic he typically avoids. He released two letters from Dr. Monahan and directly addressed his health with GOP senators. Although Senator Rand Paul expressed skepticism about the attribution of McConnell’s freeze to dehydration, few others joined him in doubting the Senate Minority Leader.
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who previously supported Senator Rick Scott over McConnell in last year’s leadership race, offered his “full support” after the meeting. Similarly, Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who also opposed McConnell in last year’s leadership election, deferred to McConnell’s medical assessments, acknowledging that McConnell is on the path to recovery.
In a whirlwind of developments, Mitch McConnell stands firm and resolute, ready to continue his influential role in the Senate.
