Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, suddenly stopped speaking during a Republican leadership news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
He was appearing to freeze and went silent, then walked away.
McConnell had been speaking his opening remarks about an annual defense policy at that moment.
He was silent for about 19 seconds.
Later, his Republican colleagues asked about his condition, and Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, a top McConnell deputy, a physician, escorted him away from the cameras.
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa made a cross sign with her hand gesture.
Interestingly, Mitch McConnell walked back to the reporters by himself just a few minutes later.
Reporters asked about his health and whether he is fully able to do his job, McConnell said he was fine.
Furthermore, his aide added that he “felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment.”
The aide also said that McConnell came back to handle Q&A and looked sharp.
Later, McConnell spoke briefly to reporters as he left the Capitol on Wednesday night and said that the president called to check on him.
A White House official confirmed that President Biden and Mitch McConnell spoke by phone on Wednesday.
In March, McConnell was hospitalized with a concussion and a minor rib fracture.
He didn’t return to the Senate until mid-April.
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