An alarming video clip shows that Rep. John Larson stopped and seemed to freeze in the middle of his speech on the House of Representatives floor. His team said it was an “adverse reaction” to a new medication he was taking.
The 76-year-old Democrat from Connecticut was in the middle of a speech on the House floor about worries about Social Security after the Trump administration sent sensitive payment information to Elon Musk through the US Treasury Department.
He abruptly halted midway through his intended five-minute speech, appearing to be struggling with his words.
“Don’t worry, no one on the Republican side of the House and US Senate who control both the House and Senate is going to speak up—,” Larson said before he abruptly cut himself off, freezing as he stared dead ahead and tried to get his bearings.
“And challenge us…,” Larson slowly continued, his words slurring slightly. “But we need to … protect Americans’ privacy and … their Social Security.”
Larson slowly improved after that, but there was a big difference between how he started and ended. He seemed to lose all motivation as he tried to fight through whatever side effect his medicine might have had.
His office quickly addressed the blip as the clip circulated on X.
“Congressman Larson appreciates the well wishes from everyone who has reached out. This afternoon, he had what was likely an adverse reaction to a new medication and is having tests administered by the House Attending Physician out of an abundance of caution,” his team wrote in a statement.
“He later participated in multiple meetings in his office and was alert and engaged. The Congressman remains in touch with his staff and in good spirits,” they added.
WATCH:
WATCH: Dem Rep. John Larson appears to suffer medical emergency during floor speech pic.twitter.com/HTySBnuSHt
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 11, 2025
A growing number of alarming medical scares from older politicians have been coming from older members of Congress, especially in the Senate, where the average member is about 65 years old, according to the Pew Research Center.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who will be 83 years old in 10 days, has health problems more often than anyone else.
McConnell, who stepped down from that role last year amid rising concerns about his health, provided an update after he reportedly fell multiple times last week.
The Kentucky Republican, 82, was seen using a wheelchair after the incidents. Reports said he fell down a small flight of stairs at least once leaving the Senate chamber on his way to lunch with GOP colleagues, Express US reported.
“Fox confirms. McConnell falls down Senate stairs after voting to confirm Scott Turner as HUD Secretary. Unclear about injuries. But Fox is told he appears to be ok. McConnell was helped up by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK),” Fox News congressional correspondent Chad Pergram tweeted.
According to his office, McConnell, who had polio as a child, is currently using a wheelchair “purely as a precautionary measure.”
“Senator McConnell is fine,” a McConnell spokesman said. “The lingering effects of polio in his left leg will not disrupt his regular schedule of work.”
McConnell was seen leaving the lunch on foot, holding onto an aide’s arm. However, he was later spotted by the press returning to the venue in a wheelchair.
In December, he also suffered a fall in the Capitol building following a lunch with his colleagues, resulting in a minor face cut and a wrist sprain.
Last year, McConnell revealed that he’s “not leaving the Senate” and that he’s focused on combating the Republican Party’s “isolationist movement,” which some viewed as a shot at President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming team.
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