Mitch McConnell
, 82 years old and leader of the Republican majority in the United States Senate, announced this Wednesday that he will leave his position in November 2024 when the presidential elections are held and after some health episodes suffered in recent months, including two appearances in front of the press in which
he was paralyzed for several seconds.
In March 2023 he had been hospitalized for a brain concussion and had to receive assistance in front of the cameras after losing the thread of his presentation and remaining silent and immobilized.
McConnell was minority leader between 2007 and 2015, then in an influential majority until 2021, and since then he has been the minority leader again.
"One of the most underrated talents in life is knowing when it is time to
move on to the next chapter of life
. So today I stand before you to tell you that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate," he announced before the High camera.
Mitch McConnell announced that in November he will leave the leadership of the Republican Party in the Senate.
AP Photo
McConnell
does not have a good relationship
with the former president of the United States and potential Republican candidate for the White House
Donald Trump
(2017-2021) and was increasingly questioned within his party.
"Believe me, I know the politics within my party at this particular time. I have many flaws, but misunderstanding politics is not one of them," he said.
More than half of the Republican parliamentary group in the Senate already showed their support for Trump in the party primaries, but McConnell was not one of them.
In fact, in his speech, McConnell
did not mention Trump even once
, but he did have words of affection for former President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989), with whom he began his political career.
Mitch McConnell when he had to receive assistance in front of cameras in August 2023. Photo ABC Affiliate WCPO via Reuters
"When I got here I was happy if anyone remembered my name. President Reagan called me Mitch O'Donall. Close, I thought. My wife, Elaine, and I got married on President Reagan's birthday, February 6. "It's probably not the most romantic thing to admit, but Reagan means a lot to both of us," he said.
The veteran Republican politician, in the Senate since 1985, will leave the position of leader but will continue as senator at least until 2027, when his current term expires.
McConnell's health worries US politics
In August 2023, after being paralyzed for the second time in a few days in front of the press and appearing visibly disoriented, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre shared the wishes of US President Joe Biden that McConnell, whom The president knows well due to their 24 years together in the Senate, he will recover soon.
"Clearly, we wish him the best and a speedy recovery. They have worked together and have known each other for a long time," he said.
A month earlier, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the third-highest-ranking Republican in the Senate, expressed concern, despite having shown improvement at the time.
In late August 2023, a journalist asked him about his plans to run for re-election.
"What is my opinion about what?" asked the legislator, somewhat disoriented, to repeat the question.
Video
Mitch McConnell was speaking to the press when he suddenly froze and had to be replaced.
Later, after the journalist's clarification, he managed to whisper: "Ah, of course."
He smiled and remained paralyzed, staring blankly ahead, for about 30 seconds.
A maid had to intervene, putting an arm around his back and speaking sweetly to guide him.
Two minutes later, the woman ended the press conference.
At the end of July, meanwhile, a similar episode took place with McConnell.
He approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began talking about the annual defense bill, which he said was moving forward with “good bipartisan cooperation.”
But then he seemed to lose the thread and was left with an endless “eh…”.
He remained in that position for 20 seconds and, after a suggestion from his colleagues, he retired to his office.