McConnell Falls Down Senate Stairs After Casting Vote

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took a fall on the stairs at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, sparking renewed concerns about his well-being.

Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram first reported the incident on X, previously known as Twitter.

“Fox confirms. McConnell falls down Senate stairs after voting to confirm Scott Turner as HUD Secretary. Unclear about injuries. But Fox is told he appears to be ok. McConnell was helped up by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK),” Pergram tweeted.

Social media users last month urged McConnell to resign after he was seen appearing frail following an earlier fall that left him injured.

The 82-year-old Republican leader has faced multiple health challenges over the years, including several falls, one of which resulted in a concussion.

McConnell's sudden fall caught many in the Capitol off guard. Reporters quickly gathered outside his office, eager for updates on his condition. A widely shared image showed someone assisting McConnell in a wheelchair after the incident.

McConnell’s spokesperson later provided an update on the senator’s status.

“Leader McConnell tripped following lunch. He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule,” a McConnell spokesman said.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), who is set to succeed McConnell as the Senate GOP leader in January, reassured reporters after a Senate GOP policy luncheon that McConnell is “fine” and “in his office.” He referred additional inquiries to McConnell’s staff.

Medical personnel with a wheelchair were reportedly summoned to assist McConnell. Incoming Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso also told the Daily Mail that McConnell “is fine.”

After being examined by medical professionals, McConnell’s office confirmed he had been “cleared to resume his schedule.”

The outgoing Senate Republican leader has experienced several health scares in recent years.

Last year, McConnell emphasized that he’s “not leaving the Senate” and remains committed to challenging the Republican Party’s “isolationist movement,” a stance some interpreted as a critique of President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration.

During an interview with WHAS radio host Terry Meiners, McConnell pledged to use his remaining Senate tenure to push back against GOP lawmakers seeking to reduce U.S. support for allies like Israel and Ukraine.

Despite stepping down as party leader, McConnell reiterated, “I’m not leaving the Senate.” He added, “I’m particularly involved in actually fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party and so many others as well.”

McConnell highlighted Ukraine’s struggle against Russia, noting that the U.S. has committed tens of billions of dollars to the cause.

“The symbol, lately, is ‘are we gonna help Ukraine or not?’ And I think it’s extremely important that we do that,” McConnell stated.

Meiners pointed out that Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul has criticized McConnell, claiming he is out of touch with Kentucky voters.

“Paul would be the first one to say that he’s an isolationist. He has been all along. This is not anything new for him. And he and I have always disagreed on this kind of issue,” McConnell responded regarding Paul.

McConnell expressed greater concern over others adopting similar views, stating that such arguments are “easily refuted.”

He elaborated, “We’re not losing any of our troops, the Ukrainians are the ones doing the fighting. If the Russians take Ukraine, some NATO country would be next and then we will be right in the middle of it.”

Many GOP senators are already contemplating a future without McConnell as leader. Frustrated with his leadership style, they are optimistic that the party’s next Senate leader will be more collaborative.

Speaking to The Daily Caller, Republican senators expressed dissatisfaction with McConnell’s centralized leadership approach, arguing that most GOP members believe in working together.

In late February, McConnell announced his decision to step down as Senate Republican leader in November.

The Kentucky senator confirmed his intention to serve out his term until January 2027, though he will be occupying “a different seat in the chamber.”