A Staff Member Handles Mitch McConnell Skillfully
Although news reports (and mean memes) focus on Minority Leader Mitch McConnell “freezing” during another news conference, I want to focus on the aide who handled the incident with kindness and grace. I can’t find information about who she is, but she serves as a good example of what to do in an uncomfortable presentation situation.
In the video, we see the woman by Senator McConnell’s side to support him while he is silent after receiving a question. She waited a few seconds to see whether McConnell would recover his words, and then was next to him quickly, touching his arm, and asking in a clear voice, “Did you hear the question, Senator? Running for election in 2026?” Framing the lapse as a hearing problem helped maintain McConnell’s dignity. When he didn’t respond, she addressed the group colloquially, as a colleague might: “OK, I’m sorry, y’all. We’re gonna need a minute.” She winked at them, as though she were taking them into her confidence. Then, she called the security officer up in case the senator needed to be removed from the podium. Fortunately, he did not.
After McConnell said he was fine, the woman stayed by his side for just a bit more. Then, again implying that it might have been a hearing problem (and the reporter’s fault), said, “Somebody else have a question? Please speak up.” She also made a good choice in seeking a new question in case the previous loaded one contributed to the lapse.
Her handling of the situation was much better than what happened last month, when the senator was silent and unmoving for about 20 seconds. At that time, a gaggle of people stood behind him looking anxious until a colleague asked him, “Hey Mitch. Anything else you want to say, or should we just go back to your office.” Then he was escorted away. To be fair, he recovered last time, so this aide thought that was possible again—and he did.
McConnell didn’t help ward off questions about his age and health when he avoided reporters’ questions about the incident last month. He said, “I’m fine” when he’s clearly not. The reporter asked if the moment was related to his injury, and he could have used that as a reason. For example, he could have said that it was probably a remnant of his concussion, which his doctor wrote in a letter recently, or he could have made a joke or conveyed agility and inspired confidence in some other way.
This time, the staff member helped preserve his dignity, but questions about his ability to continue in his role linger.