'Not a joke' | Joe Biden calls Mitch McConnell a friend when asked about him freezing again on camer

President Joe Biden called Mitch McConnell a friend when asked about the Senate GOP leader freezing up again on camera.

According to video from a local news station, the 81-year-old McConnell was asked whether he would run for reelection in 2026. The senator asked the reporter to repeat the question before trailing off and staring straight ahead for about 10 seconds.

A woman standing at the front of the room with McConnell asked him whether he heard the question and she repeated it. When McConnell did not answer, she announced to the room that “we’re going to need a minute.” McConnell eventually answered two additional questions — though not the one about a 2026 campaign — and was halting and appeared to have some difficulty speaking. The woman then ended the news conference and McConnell left the room, walking slowly.

McConnell's reaction was similar to the time when he froze for about 20 seconds at a news conference in the Capitol in late July. He went back to his office with aides and then returned to answer more questions.

The latest incident in Covington, Kentucky on Wednesday adds to the questions in recent months about McConnell’s health and whether the Kentucky Republican, who was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has served as GOP leader since 2007, will remain in his leadership post.

His office said afterward that McConnell was feeling “momentarily lightheaded" and would see a physician before his next event. Similarly, after the July episode, aides said McConnell was lightheaded and McConnell told reporters several hours later that he was “fine.” Neither McConnell or his aides have given any further details about what happened.

[steveladner]

In a real world Joe and Mitch would be sitting in a park feeding the pigeons.

[tomfromms]

Can we start voting for younger politicians please…. Enough of the retirement home running a country they can’t function in.

[jeremyjdl]

Age limits. It’s insane he’s allowed to still be a senator. If he was a mechanic, a mcd manager, a doctor, or literally anything else that mf would’ve been forced to retire.

[carlosperdomo]

Two old farts holding our country back

[Rum-Runner]

“Mitch is a friend, as you know, not a joke…”

No, Mr. President, I humbly disagree. Mitch is most certainly a joke.

[eyestoenvy]

“Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often and for the same reasons” …. (Mark Twain)

[Alligator]

Our President mumbles and stumbles‼️Mitch, Biden, Feinstein and Fetterman... They all need to retire. ENOUGH ‼️ This is an embarrassment to America and the world. It's time for the next generation to take control ‼️

[allanlansdowne]

Does biden, fetterman, mcconnel and feinstein share the same doctor.

[GigglewithFelix]

Joe and Mitch are a combined age of my calculator broke

[tiias]

All these politicians say, We disagree on things but we are good friends.
And Trump says, With friends like you, who needs enemies.

[peterbudo]

Hello Mitch....are you there on the other line? It's Joe Biden! If you can hear me don't say nothing!!

[coloneldarren]

The US is now running the world's most expensive vegetable farm. Lol

[johnofmalta]

Why are we having 80 year olds running the country? Dude looks like Skeletor. Shouts to He-man

[drewspinoso]

Who needs friends like that? Jesus I couldn’t imagine what an enemy is.

[jayb]

Cut from a different cloth but stealing and bamboozling the same people…

[Floridacoastwriter]

TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESSMEN, AGE LIMITS FOR PRESIDENT.

[honeybadgerjay]

Joe and Mitch look like they broke out of a retirement home

They need to go back for sponge baths, pudding time, and diaper changes

[scupking]

We need an age limit of 70. Once you hit 70 you can no longer be in the government… These guys should be on a park bench playing checkers…

[AMexicant]

If this happened to Biden I’d like to see what his “friends” on the right would say.

[johnobannon]

Of course Joe will defend it because he's teetering on that same edge.