During a news conference on Wednesday, August 30, in Covington, Kentucky, the topic of whether Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is currently serving his seventh term in office, will run for reelection in 2026 was posed to him. He requested that the reporter pose the question twice because he was unable to hear.
When he finally understood the question, he chuckled for a brief moment before becoming still. Then one of his assistants came up to him and asked him some questions regarding the subject. He mumbled, “Yes,” but paused for an additional five seconds before telling the press to wait for him for a minute.
“Come with us,” one of his other helpers said as they approached him and asked if he wanted to walk outside. Although he appeared to be muttering “Okay,” he was actually giving the go-ahead for another question. They inquired if anyone else had any questions and reminded everyone to speak out.
The question that had been asked before to the moment being frozen was subsequently replaced with one concerning Daniel Cameron, the Republican attorney general of Kentucky currently serving as secretary of state, and his announcement that he intended to run for governor in May 2022. “I think the governor’s race is going to be very close,” McConnell shot back.