McConnell trips, falls ahead of Capitol vote, latest in string of public health scares

After tripping and falling Thursday at the U.S. Capitol ahead of a vote, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell is reportedly in good health.

The fall, caught on camera as the 83-year-old senator took a question on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is the latest in a string of freezes, tumbles and other health scares in recent years.

McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, announced in February he would not seek reelection. His term expires in January 2027, and the seat has already garnered several candidates.

The string of public health scares dates back to at least March 2023, when McConnell tripped at a dinner event in Washington, D.C., and was admitted and then discharged from the hospital several days later.

Here’s a look back at some of the influential Republican senator’s high-profile appearances and health problems.

KY Sen. Mitch McConnell: Freezes, falls and public health scares

March 8, 2023: Fall sends McConnell to the hospital with a concussion

At a dinner event in Washington, McConnell tripped and was later admitted into a hospital for treatment.

However, the public did not learn the then-Senate minority leader had suffered a concussion until about 13 hours after his office said he’d visited the hospital, McClatchy reported. At the time, he was expected to remain hospitalized.

During a previous fall in 2019, McConnell fractured his shoulder at his home in Kentucky and recovered from the injury.

March 13, 2023: McConnell is discharged from hospital stay, heads to therapy

McConnell was discharged from a Washington hospital March 13, 2023, and underwent physical therapy at an inpatient rehab facility before returning home, a statement from a spokesperson said at the time.

While remaining in the hospital over the course of the previous weekend, McConnell’s medical team discovered he had also fractured a rib.

April 13, 2023: McConnell announces he’ll return to the Senate

After spending more than five weeks recovering from his fall, McConnell announced his return to the Senate the following week.

“I am looking forward to returning to the Senate on Monday,” McConnell posted on X, then Twitter. “We’ve got important business to tackle and big fights to win for Kentuckians and the American people.”

May 23, 2023: Staffers assist McConnell at University of Kentucky event

During a groundbreaking event at the University of Kentucky in Lexington in late May of that year, McConnell briefly spoke to reporters. Members of his staff asked reporters to speak up when asking questions.

The outdoor event took place with several hundred attendees as the senator fielded questions. Staffers had to repeat some questions for McConnell.

July 26, 2023: McConnell freezes for more than 20 seconds at Washington press conference

While giving a statement at a news conference held in the U.S. Senate building, McConnell froze for more than 20 seconds and appeared unable to speak before colleagues escorted him away from the podium. McConnell later returned and said “I’m fine.”

Aug. 30, 2023: Another public freeze

In a second freeze, this time at a press conference in Northern Kentucky, McConnell fell silent for more than 30 seconds after a reporter asked a question.

In Covington, McConnell was asked about running for reelection in 2026. He asked the reporter to repeat the question and after a moment’s pause, aide Robbin Taylor repeated the question to the senator. McConnell was led away, then the news conference resumed with a staff repeating questions to McConnell.

Asked about the incident at the time, a spokesperson for the senator said McConnell “felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today.”

Dec. 10, 2024: Luncheon fall

After a fall that followed a Senate GOP lunch in Washington, McConnell required medical attention for injuries, including a sprained wrist and a small cut on his face. Medical professionals were seen entering the senator’s office after the event, and he was later “cleared to resume his schedule” a spokesperson wrote at the time.

Feb. 5, 2025: McConnell falls down stairs

McConnell fell down a set of stairs in Washington. A staffer later attributed it to “lingering effects of polio in his left leg.” The fall reportedly occurred after McConnell voted to confirm Scott Turner as secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A reporter with news outlet Punchbowl News witnessed the fall, writing on X: “Sen McConnell just fell down the stairs on his way out of the chamber… He got up with the help from some senators and seemed to walk it off as he left.”

A spokesperson for McConnell’s office confirmed the fall in a press statement asserting the 82-year-old senator was “fine.”

Oct. 16, 2025: Trip and fall with reporters caught on camera

McConnell, navigating a corridor at the Capitol accompanied by a security detail, stumbles and falls to the ground while being questioned by a member of The Sunrise Movement, a progressive group. The fall is caught on camera and widely circulated on social media.

The senator is assisted to his feet and turns and waves to the camera and crowd as he is escorted away.

A spokesperson later responds: “He’s all good — went on to vote and ready to vote again at 1:30 p.m. to see if (Democrats) decide to fund our nation’s defense priorities or not.”

Lexington Herald-Leader reporters Austin Horn, David Catanese, Tessa Duvall and Monica Kast contributed to this report.

This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 2:53 PM.