Mitch McConnell was publicly humiliated on Saturday while attempting to make a speech, as he was drowned out by merciless booing and shouts for him to retire.
The 81-year-old Senate Minority Leader had been speaking at the Fancy Farm picnic, one of Kentucky’s main political events.
McConnell had attended the picnic amid recent questions about his health and political future after he froze mid-sentence during a press conference last month.
On Saturday, that sentiment was continued by a large number of people in the audience who booed and jeered the Kentucky native.
In video footage of his speech, McConnell is completely unintelligible as the shouting of ‘RETIRE’ is head around the room, which then descends into booing.
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during the annual St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Kentucky, on Saturday, Aug 5
McConnell does his best to continue through the incessant jeering and according to CNN later told the crowd: ‘This is my 28th Fancy Farm and I want to assure you it’s not my last.
‘The people of this state have chosen me seven times to do this job, and I want you to know how grateful I am.’
On Truth Social, former President Trump also shared the footage from his speech and said: ‘I AGREE!’
McConnell froze for twenty seconds late last month while speaking at his leadership briefing, being unable to complete his sentence.
‘Are you OK?’ asked Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon and the third most senior Republican in the Senate, as he took his arm. ‘Anything else you want to say or should we just go back to your office?’
After a few moments, he guided McConnell away from the lectern towards his office.
Another GOP Senator John Thune carried on with the press conference, before McConnell returned and said: ‘I’m fine’.
When a reporter asked if he felt he can fully do his job, McConnell said ‘yes’ and continued.
It raised fresh questions about his ability to do his job and the advanced age of so many of the nation’s political leaders including President Biden.
Aides later said McConnell had been feeling ‘light-headed’ prior to making his remarks.
Later, McConnell told reporters that the president had called to ask after his well-being.
He said he told Biden he had been ‘sandbagged,’ a reference to president’s quip after stumbling over two sandbags at an Air Force Academy graduation in June.
Former President Trump posted on Sunday night that he believed McConnell should resign from his role
McConnell, left, is assisted by Sen. John Barrasso, second from right, and a Capitol Police officer after the GOP leader froze
Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell suddenly stopped talking and had to be walked away from the podium during his press conference
In the weeks leading up to him freezing during the press conference, McConnell had also fallen multiple times.
McConnell had fallen while getting off a plane at Washington’s Reagan Airport just a few days prior in a spat of incidents raising concerns about his health.
McConnell has fallen two other times this year, according to multiple reports, one of which resulted in a concussion and has led to speculation over whether he has been neurologically impacted by the spills.
The first fall this year, according to a new CNN report, happened in February while McConnell was in Helsinki with a U.S. delegation. The Kentucky Republican tripped and fell while getting out of his car on a snowy day as he was walking to meet the Finnish president.
Just days later in March, McConnell fell again at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C., leading to a concussion after hitting his head during the tumble.
He also broke some ribs at the hotel and was out of Congress for nearly six weeks recovering.
‘It’s good to be back,’ he said after returning to work. ‘Suffice to say, this wasn’t the first time being hard-headed has served me very well.’