BREAKING NEWS: Mitch McConnell, 81, suffered a CONCUSSION after falling and hitting his head at DC’s Waldorf Astoria – and will be in hospital for a few DAYS

• Sen. McConnell was attending a dinner for his PAC at the Waldorf Astoria 
• He has a concussion and will be in hospital a ‘few days’ 
• Biden and first lady wished him ‘a swift recovery’ and sent best wishes

Senator Mitch McConnell is suffering from a concussion after he tripped at a dinner at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington D.C. and will be in the hospital a few days, his office said.

‘Leader McConnell tripped at a dinner event Wednesday evening and has been admitted to the hospital and is being treated for a concussion,’ his communications director David Popp said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

‘He is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days of observation and treatment. The Leader is grateful to the medical professionals for their care and to his colleagues for their warm wishes.’

The Mayo Clinic recommends ‘physically and mentally rest’ after a concussion.  As recovery continues, a doctor could recommend shortened workdays, taking breaks during the day, or having a modified or reduced schedule.

Light activity can usually be resumed a few days after the injury. McConnell, 81, was hosting a dinner for his Senate Leadership Fund at D.C.’s Waldorf Astoria hotel when he had the fall.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (pictured Tuesday) tripped and fell Wednesday at a hotel and was hospitalized; he has a concussion and will be in hospital a ‘few days’

Republican Senator John Thune, the Number Two GOP leader, was at the fundraiser and spoke to McConnell at the reception there on Wednesday night.

He said the senator was ‘great. He talked. His usual.’ 

Thune then left the fundraising reception in the hotel’s Franklin Room ballroom and McConnell stayed for a private dinner. The fall took place as McConnell was leaving that dinner, in the 9 p.m. hour.

An ambulance took the GOP leader to George Washington hospital.

Colleagues in the Senate and associates around Washington, D.C. are sending their prayers to the long-time senator after his injury.

President Joe Biden was one of them. White House spokeswoman Olivia Dalton declined to read out any phone calls, but read a statement to reporters traveling with the president to Philadelphia on the day of his budget rollout.

‘The president and first lady saw the news about leader McConnell’s hospitalization last night and they are both wishing leader McConnell a swift recovery and sending him their best wishes to get well soon,’ the White House said.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said Thursday that he called McConnell this morning, but provided no further details on his condition.

‘My thoughts this morning are with my good friend Leader Mitch McConnell, who’s recovering in the hospital after an accident last night. This morning I offer a prayer strength and healing for the leader and his family,’ said Schumer. He said he spoke to McConnell staff members as well to extend well wishes.

‘My thoughts are also with leader McConnell’s family and his team. I join every single one of my colleagues in wishing leader McConnell a speedy and full recovery,’ Schumer concluded. 

Several members of McConnell’s Senate GOP conference issued statements pulling for him. 

Texas Senator John Cornyn, a longtime advisor and former party whip, was the first to post well wishes for the upper chamber’s GOP leader on Thursday morning.

‘Sandy and I are praying for Leader McConnell’s speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in the Capitol soon,’ he tweeted.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) issued similar words. ‘I am praying for a speedy recovery for my friend @LeaderMcConnell. I hope to see you back on the Senate floor soon. 

‘Lord bless Senator McConnell with a speedy recovery. We pray in your marvelous name,’ said Senate Chaplain Rear Adm. Barry Black as he opened Thursday’s Senate session.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Barr wrote: ‘This morning, I join my fellow Kentuckians in wishing Leader McConnell a speedy recovery.’ 

McConnell tripped and fell at the hotel, which was previously the Trump Hotel before the Trump Organization sold the lease.

McConnell was attending a fundraiser for his leadership PAC at the Waldorf, formerly the Trump Hotel

McConnell had a fall in 2019 outside his Louisville home, and appeared with bruised hands in the Senate in October 2020 

McConnell (pictured in October 2020), had polio as a child

McConnell has had previous injuries. In October 2020, he was seen walking around the Senate with bruised hands. 

In 2019, the minority leader, a survivor of childhood polio, tripped and fell at his home in Kentucky, suffering a shoulder fracture. 

At the time, he underwent surgery to repair the fracture in his shoulder. The Senate had just started a summer recess and he worked from home for some weeks as he recovered.

First elected in 1984, McConnell in January became the longest-serving Senate leader when the new Congress convened, breaking the previous record of 16 years.

Before his election to the Senate, he served as judge-executive of Jefferson County, Kentucky from 1978. 

The taciturn McConnell is often reluctant to discuss his private life. But at the start of the COVID-19 crisis he opened up about his early childhood experience fighting polio. 

He described how his mother insisted that he stay off his feet as a toddler and worked with him through a determined physical therapy regime. He has acknowledged some difficulty in adulthood climbing stairs. 

The longtime Republican leader became the third member of the Senate to be hospitalized in the past month. 

The Senate, where the average age is 65, has been without several members recently due to illness.

The office of Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said she was hospitalized last week to be treated for shingles. 

Even the younger members of the Senate have been ill in recent weeks.

The Senate, where the average age is 65, has been without several members recently due to illness. The office of Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said she was hospitalized last week to be treated for shingles

Democrat Senator John Fetterman, 53, who suffered a stroke during his campaign last year, was expected to remain out for some weeks as he received care for clinical depression

Democrat John Fetterman, 53, who suffered a stroke during his campaign last year, was expected to remain out for some weeks as he received care for clinical depression. 

Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, returned home after the death of his mother last week, and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, spent time away from the upper chamber recovering from COVID. They all missed votes in the last week.

The Democratic absences have proven a challenge for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is already navigating a very narrow 51-49 majority.

The Republicans, as the minority party, have had an easier time with intermittent absences. 

President Joe Biden, who is also an octogenarian at 80 years old, recently had a minor health scare of his own. 

President Joe Biden had lesion removed from his chest during a February physical that was found to be cancerous – he is now cancer free; (above) he leaves the White House on Friday afternoon to head to Wilmington, Delaware

A skin legion lesion removed from Biden’s chest last month during his annual physical was cancerous, White House doctor Kevin O’Connor announced last week, but added no further treatment is needed.

Biden is already the oldest president in U.S. history, and if he wins another term, he will be 82 at the time of his second inauguration. 

The president is not the only member of the family to be diagnosed with skin cancer.

First lady Jill Biden in January had two basal cell lesions removed from her right eye and chest. All cancerous cells were removed.

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