LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said he is "fine" after he froze during a news conference Wednesday in Washington.

The Senate minority leader was at the podium in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda when he stopped speaking during the weekly Republican leadership news conference. After McConnell froze, those nearby waited for him to speak, but he remained silent before being walked away.

The Kentucky Republican later said he was fine.

The Republican leader approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with “good bipartisan cooperation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out “uh...”

He then appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.

He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. McConnell later returned to the press conference and answered questions from the press.

CSPAN reported on social media that McConnell later returned to the podium. He was asked by a reporter if he "could address what happened here at the start of the press conference and was it related to your injury from earlier this year where you suffered a concussion?"

McConnell replied, "I'm fine." 

The reporter said "You're fine? You're fully able to do your job?" McConnell responded, "Yeah."  

A McConnell aide said "He felt light headed and stepped away for a moment. He came back to handle Q and A, which as everyone observed was sharp."

The 81-year-old Kentucky Republican was at dinner March 8 after a hotel reception for a campaign committee aligned with him when he tripped and fell. In addition to suffering a concussion, he also had a rib fracture.

He was released from the hospital on March 13 and, upon the advice of his doctor, moved to an inpatient rehabilitation facility for physical therapy and to continue his recovery.

McConnell's office declined to say whether he was seen by a doctor after the episode.

His speech has sounded more halting in recent weeks, prompting questions among some of his colleagues about his health.

After the press conference, Barrasso told reporters he “wanted to make sure everything was fine” and walked McConnell down the hall to his office.

Barrasso said he has been concerned since McConnell was injured earlier this year, “and I continue to be concerned.”

But asked about his particular concerns, Barrasso said: “I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he's made a remarkable recovery, he's doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today.”

Walking out of his office Wednesday evening, McConnell again told reporters he was fine. He said President Joe Biden had called him.

“The president called to check up on me, and I told him I got sandbagged,” McConnell joked, referencing a quote from Biden in June after he tripped over a sandbag and fell while onstage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation.

First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in history in January. He was easily reelected to his leadership post that same month, despite a challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott.

Still, several Republicans, including No. 2 Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Barrasso, are seen as waiting in the wings to someday replace him.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who is also seen as a potential candidate to succeed McConnell, told reporters after the episode, “I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader.”

McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in climbing stairs. In addition to his fall in March, he also tripped and fell four years ago at his home in Kentucky, causing a shoulder fracture that required surgery.

The Republican leader is one of several senators who have been absent due to health issues this year. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, 90, was out of the Senate for more than two months as she recovered from a bout of shingles. And Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., 53, took leave for several weeks to get treatment for clinical depression.

Related Stories:

Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. The Associated Press contributed to this story.  All Rights Reserved.